Nigel Wood's RFL return complete as clubs seek Robert Hicks return

[josie andrews]

Exclusive: Wood is back at the Rugby Football League after an absence of seven years.

Nigel Wood is set to be announced as the new interim chair of the Rugby Football League, and he could be joined back at the organisation by another former employee in Robert Hicks.

A council meeting scheduled to take place on Wednesday has been cancelled following the immediate departure of previous RFL chairperson Simon Johnson, whose departure was announced on Tuesday following a meeting with key clubs on Monday.

In February, Leigh Leopards and Batley Bulldogs put forward four resolutions as part of plans to reform the top of the game. The first two of those have now already taken place, with Johnson departing his position at the governing body immediately. Sally Lindsay has also departed her role as a senior independent non-executive director.

Now, it has now been confirmed in communication with clubs on Tuesday afternoon that there is enough support through votes by proxy to pass the other two resolutions. As a result, there is no reason

The first of those was to approve a member-led strategic review of the sport, with Leigh Leopards owner Derek Beaumont and Leeds Rhinos chief executive Gary Hetherington being given the power to appoint a chair for that strategic review. That person has already been selected and it will be Wood, who acted as chief executive of the governing body for 12 years before stepping down in 2018. As a result of being chair of the strategic review, he becomes the interim chair of the RFL.

Furthermore, no appointments will be made to the RFL board until July 2025, as per the fourth resolution. That will tie in with the next Annual General Meeting, where the results of the strategic review will be outlined.

With Wood now in place, the future of Robert Hicks becomes unclear. Just yesterday, the Rugby Football League confirmed the departure of their former head of legal and operation following a period of six months under suspension.

But Hicks was fiercely popular among clubs, with many left infuriated by his extended absence at the organisation. Privately, many are keen to see him reinstated and with Wood now set to take charge, there is an expectation that there will be a push to find Hicks a role within the organisation, though that has not been addressed in any discussions at this point.

https://www.alloutrugbyleague.co.uk/new ... ommunities

[fozzie58]

He was such a success last time round dear me

[medlocke]

Christ on a bike

[Caboosegg]

How can anyone see Woods as a good idea... is this because certain clubs where being pushed to improve and don't want to.

Fans should start a petition or vote with their wallets.

[the pieman]

this sport is unbelievable at times, especially in its desire to let the lowest tier pull everyone back down to them. Woods wasnt a success last time he was in charge, so i know what, lets get rid of someone who has been doing a decent job and replace him with someone who is going to milk us for all he can

i love watching Wigan, and rugby league but we will never become anything but a minority sport with the way it is run. RL may never grow to where many of us believe it should be, and that in part is down to its perception (class) and our own inability to allow progression

[Ipinwigan]

The sports on it's arse and now we have Fat Nige back to drag us even farther down.

[moto748]

There's clearly a lot going on behind the scenes. So Beaumont is in favour of the return of Woods? Why is that, then? He didn't like Johnson? Why not? And what's the whole story about Hicks?

[Charriots Offiah]

He was such a success last time round dear me

The messiah has returned

[the pieman]

He was such a success last time round dear me

The messiah has returned

He's not the messiah, he's a very naughty boy, now b***** off

[DaveO]

There's clearly a lot going on behind the scenes. So Beaumont is in favour of the return of Woods? Why is that, then? He didn't like Johnson? Why not? And what's the whole story about Hicks?

Woods was paid £300K to leave when he was booted out last time.

Apparently the clubs behind this are unhappy with the way the sport is being run whatever that means.

These clubs want approval to begin a member-led review of the professional game. Member-led, in short, means the clubs would effectively be in charge of that process with the RFL shut out. Beaumont and Gary Hetherington would be appointed as the club-nominated representatives.

So it is a power grab and Beaumont has aligned himself with the dinosaurs including Hethertington.