Rugby League is ‘dying’ claims leading sports promoter Eddie Hearn

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Rugby League is ‘dying’ claims leading sports promoter Eddie Hearn

Post by josie andrews »

Legendary sports promoter Eddie Hearn has given a brutal verdict on how Rugby League in Britain is “dying”.

Hearn is the son of Barry Hearn, the founder of Matchroom who helped to establish the Professional Darts Corporation and have been promoting sports in the UK and globally since the early 1980s.

The company took huge strides forward in the late 2000s and early 2010s as they revamped boxing and made it one of the nation’s most popular sports with Barry’s son Eddie at the forefront of that huge boom.

Since then, Eddie Hearn has become one of the world’s leading promoters in the sport and regularly negotiates fights worth more than £100 million.

It has previously been revealed that Hearn was approached by the sport about helping to increase the audience of rugby league in a similar vein to how he heightened boxing, something that did not come to fruition due to the RFL’s refusal to allow Matchroom full scope and control of the sport.

Hearn has now retold the story whilst speaking with Australian podcast Bloke in a Bar with a clip posted recently on the podcast’s Instagram page in which Hearn claims rugby league is a “dying sport” – at least in the UK.

It’s a damning statement about the status of the sport from a man who is all too familiar with sports that were on the brink of ‘dying’. For the most part, elite boxing events in the UK were still being held in local leisure centres prior to the huge boom led by Matchroom.

Now, Matchroom regularly hosts shows at venues such as Wembley, the Millenium Stadium and the O2 Arena highlighting the transformed fortunes.

Speaking on rugby league, Hearn explained: “I was approached a couple of years ago by the rugby league guys to help with the sport because it’s a dying sport.

“It’s struggling is rugby league in the UK – bad. And the reason it is struggling is because there are no stars – in my opinion – and they’re not being pushed and parted in the right way.

“If you tell me to name a rugby league player then I go Jamie Peacock and Ellery Hanley, all these guys from the ’90s because that’s what I grew up watching.

“They were on mainstream TV and they were celebrities. They were stars and now we don’t have any of those.”

Frustratingly, those involved in rugby league will tell you about the stars but the lack of transition to the mainstream is obvious and as a result that has led to the game ‘dying’ in Hearn’s belief.

Continuing, he would cite the shrinking TV deal and explain how the sport can still be saved given the huge quality that it offers as a product.

He said: “The game is dying, the TV contracts are whimpering out. The value of those contracts are really dying and commercially, the sport is dying.

“They asked me to get involved in a couple of the bigger events and I said that the only way we would get involved is if we had an overhaul and we were in charge of that. Not doing this event or the Challenge Cup Final and that kind of stuff.

“It is the whole sport that needs to be revamped from grassroots to the elite level.

“I mean, I played a little bit of union but I’m not a massive rugby fan but it is a great sport, a tough sport and a brutal sport which is similar to the sports I’m involved in.

“Over here (Australia), it’s a different sport.”

https://www.seriousaboutrl.com/rugby-le ... rn-100641/
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Re: Rugby League is ‘dying’ claims leading sports promoter Eddie Hearn

Post by josie andrews »

Super League TV struggles laid bare as rival sport signs HUGE Sky deal

Super League’s place on the sporting food chain has been illustrated by the dwindling value of its Sky deal in recent years: and that has been proven yet again after news of another sport signing a bumper broadcast deal.

Rugby league’s income from its Sky Sports deal is the major source of income for clubs. But the figure has gradually decreased in recent years; this year, Super League got £21million from the broadcaster – almost half of what it received as recently as three years earlier.

https://www.loverugbyleague.com/post/su ... e-sky-deal
Anyone can support a team when it is winning, that takes no courage.
But to stand behind a team, to defend a team when it is down and really needs you,
that takes a lot of courage. #18thMan
fozzie58
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Re: Rugby League is ‘dying’ claims leading sports promoter Eddie Hearn

Post by fozzie58 »

Until the muppets who run the sport allow the clubs,who can afford to do so,spend as they will the sport will wither on the vine but still keeps the sport “even and balanced” to allow so many clubs to win that grand final….
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Re: Rugby League is ‘dying’ claims leading sports promoter Eddie Hearn

Post by Blackpool_Pie »

fozzie58 wrote: Sat Jan 11, 2025 7:12 pm Until the muppets who run the sport allow the clubs,who can afford to do so,spend as they will the sport will wither on the vine but still keeps the sport “even and balanced” to allow so many clubs to win that grand final….
Do you really think if we went out and signed all the best players in the world and other teams fell further behind us and one or two others, that would really help the sport in this country?

The problem for me, is how badly the sport is promoted. We had something decent going when the Super League started. Albeit a little bit tinpot but the fanfare was there. Games seemed exciting for the neutral. I was in school in the late 90s and early 00s in an area where no one really watched rugby league. Many of my friends who were only really into football used to watch the games on a Friday night. They were exciting. The whole package from Sky Sports built the game up. Eddie and Stevo, like them or loathe them, hyped the game up so much. Compare it to current day and we have pretty drab commentators, the build up is non existent for most games. The most they have is a quick clip just pre game that's also played on the big screen at the ground which feels a little bit forced.

We also have no household names in the sport over here anymore. No real characters, or at least no characters that are allowed to be themselves.

Then you have the international game. No one cares about England anymore. I remember Wembley being packed out in the 90s. Now you see the struggle to fill 20k stadiums. Hopefully that changes with the ashes
endoman
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Re: Rugby League is ‘dying’ claims leading sports promoter Eddie Hearn

Post by endoman »

Not be able to earn outside the salary cap , for things none rugby, a killer.
widdenoldboy
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Re: Rugby League is ‘dying’ claims leading sports promoter Eddie Hearn

Post by widdenoldboy »

Hearn makes for some uncomfortable reading, certainly the lack of "stars" is a good point
Wiganer Ted
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Re: Rugby League is ‘dying’ claims leading sports promoter Eddie Hearn

Post by Wiganer Ted »

We have the players who have the ability to be stars.
The reason that they are not is the lack of media profile.
This is a real challenge for the RFL/SL.
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Re: Rugby League is ‘dying’ claims leading sports promoter Eddie Hearn

Post by josie andrews »

Wiganer Ted wrote: Sun Jan 12, 2025 12:44 pm We have the players who have the ability to be stars.
The reason that they are not is the lack of media profile.
This is a real challenge for the RFL/SL.
Exactly this Ted!
Anyone can support a team when it is winning, that takes no courage.
But to stand behind a team, to defend a team when it is down and really needs you,
that takes a lot of courage. #18thMan
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Re: Rugby League is ‘dying’ claims leading sports promoter Eddie Hearn

Post by thegimble »

Hearn is correct. The game is run and promoted by total wasters. The game is going backwards. Last season we had a dream finale. Either we became legends or HKR created history for themselves. They have a class player in Lewis. Yet outside League fans no one person would know who he is. Game was not handled like a major final by RFL and SKY. Not one player is a household name. And nothing will change unless they give the sport to a promoter that knows what they are doing. Bevan French is a superstar but like Lewis no one outside RL has heard of. Biggest RL superstar ATM is Sinfield for his money raising achievements. That really says a lot

Clubs are protecting their status in Super League The grading system is a joke. Cas, Wakey are not modern day sports stadiums. Before anyone says tradition remember tradition is holding us back. NRL is not holding to tradition. They either improve or get downgraded.

That's why they are so far ahead of us it's a joke. That is not funny. Why are we so far behind owners are only concerned about their teams. Out of SL only 4 teams are actually top grade. Saints, Rhinos, Wire and us. Rest have added little or nothing over SL history. And they have held the game back.

Late 90s we had recognisable players, poster campaigns the odd promotion etc. Last marketable player was Sam. But that was missed simply teams should put the game first and not own interests. And they can not earn outside the game is that correct?

Low Cap is the killer. Unless that is changed then there is no incentive to improve. For those saying that is all teams can afford then answer this why has SL gone backwards player standard is lower now than 2010. Wakey Cas of this world should never be able to compete with top teams but they are as the cap is low. And I would guess some do not even pay up to the cap. So why should they stop teams spending more in a vain hope of a final. Nobody new has won a GF since Leeds. SL was supposedly a level playing field well worked out great. 2 sides won the last 6 GF and I would guess 2 in 7 incoming. I am not advocating scrapping it but if an owner wishes to go over allow them as long as the money is held before the start of the season.

internationally game in the Northern hemisphere is dead. Next world cup will be all southern hemisphere semi finals. Super League has actually failed fans, players, sponsors and broadcasters.

Answer is simple lot simpler than people realise give the game to Hearn to run or any promoter that understands how to build up a sporting brand. Give them full control and this is going to annoy a lot of the decide to stop the CC then so be it.

We need to stop living in the past it's allowing owners to kill the game.
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Re: Rugby League is ‘dying’ claims leading sports promoter Eddie Hearn

Post by Mike »

thegimble wrote: Mon Jan 13, 2025 1:16 am Hearn is correct. The game is run and promoted by total wasters. The game is going backwards. Last season we had a dream finale. Either we became legends or HKR created history for themselves. They have a class player in Lewis. Yet outside League fans no one person would know who he is. Game was not handled like a major final by RFL and SKY. Not one player is a household name. And nothing will change unless they give the sport to a promoter that knows what they are doing. Bevan French is a superstar but like Lewis no one outside RL has heard of. Biggest RL superstar ATM is Sinfield for his money raising achievements. That really says a lot

Clubs are protecting their status in Super League The grading system is a joke. Cas, Wakey are not modern day sports stadiums. Before anyone says tradition remember tradition is holding us back. NRL is not holding to tradition. They either improve or get downgraded.

That's why they are so far ahead of us it's a joke. That is not funny. Why are we so far behind owners are only concerned about their teams. Out of SL only 4 teams are actually top grade. Saints, Rhinos, Wire and us. Rest have added little or nothing over SL history. And they have held the game back.

Late 90s we had recognisable players, poster campaigns the odd promotion etc. Last marketable player was Sam. But that was missed simply teams should put the game first and not own interests. And they can not earn outside the game is that correct?

Low Cap is the killer. Unless that is changed then there is no incentive to improve. For those saying that is all teams can afford then answer this why has SL gone backwards player standard is lower now than 2010. Wakey Cas of this world should never be able to compete with top teams but they are as the cap is low. And I would guess some do not even pay up to the cap. So why should they stop teams spending more in a vain hope of a final. Nobody new has won a GF since Leeds. SL was supposedly a level playing field well worked out great. 2 sides won the last 6 GF and I would guess 2 in 7 incoming. I am not advocating scrapping it but if an owner wishes to go over allow them as long as the money is held before the start of the season.

internationally game in the Northern hemisphere is dead. Next world cup will be all southern hemisphere semi finals. Super League has actually failed fans, players, sponsors and broadcasters.

Answer is simple lot simpler than people realise give the game to Hearn to run or any promoter that understands how to build up a sporting brand. Give them full control and this is going to annoy a lot of the decide to stop the CC then so be it.

We need to stop living in the past it's allowing owners to kill the game.
Move to an NFL centrally managed sport essentially. Pool all financial and playing resources and periodically redistribute. Market the game centrally to benefit the game as awhile and not individual clubs specifically. That's what the Hearns wanted. Central control. Fair enough IMO, but if you're going to stick with individual clubs operating as individual organizations you can't have what the Hearns wanted.
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