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BBC News
4 hours ago
- BBC News
Salford Red Devils fans march in protest after game cancelled
About 500 Salford Red Devils fans have marched in protest against the way in which the struggling rugby league club is being game against Wakefield was cancelled due to welfare concerns by the Rugby Football League (RFL).It was the latest blow for supporters who have had to watch their 152-year-old club's best players leave due to ongoing financial five games of the Super League season remaining, relegation is all but certain and concerns - strongly denied by the club - have been expressed about whether the Red Devils have a viable future. Their owners released a statement on Monday to say the club would not be closing despite their money problems. Last week the Red Devils said, of the 17 players they would have available for Sunday's Wakefield fixture, only two of them had appeared at Super League level during the last 12 RFL board, in line with its operational rules, will decide the outcome of the fixture next sport's governing body said discussions would continue with the club about their five other remaining are marooned at the bottom of the Super League table with 19 defeats from 21 matches. Listen to the best of BBC Radio Manchester on Sounds and follow BBC Manchester on Facebook, X, and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.
The Guardian
7 hours ago
- The Guardian
Rugby league told £16m government funding will be stopped unless questions answered
The Rugby Football League has been told it will not receive the next instalment of government funding due next month unless it addresses concerns in Westminster about the sport's governance. Officials from Sport England are due to meet the RFL leadership team of the interim chair, Nigel Wood, and chief executive, Tony Sutton, this week to address the issue, with the next payment of a £16m government funding package at risk. The Guardian has learned that during preliminary discussions to arrange the meeting, the RFL was informed it will not receive next month's payment without providing satisfactory answers regarding recent changes to its board to Sport England, which will be represented by its chair, Chris Boardman, and interim chief executive, Phil Smith. Sport England is understood to believe that the RFL's decision to install Wood as interim chair may have breached the Code for Sports Governance, as it does not appear to have followed an 'open and transparent' recruitment process. Complying with the code, which sets out minimum standards regarding transparency, diversity and inclusion, accountability and integrity, is a prerequisite for governing bodies seeking government and National Lottery funding. An RFL spokesperson told the Guardian: 'The RFL is working with Sport England on a Governance Action Plan, following resignations from the Board earlier in 2025, which required transitional arrangements. 'We appreciate the need for Sport England to reassure themselves that our response will remain fully compliant with the Code for Sports Governance – the new RFL Board are totally committed to this. 'The outstanding work that is delivered by the sport in hard-to-reach communities, made possible partly by Sport England funding, continues unaffected.' Government money is critical to rugby league, the finances of which have been stretched in recent years by the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic and the collapse in the value of its main broadcast deal with Sky Sports, which is paying the Super League clubs around half what it was five years ago to televise their matches. Without Sport England funding many other clubs would find themselves in a similar position to Salford Red Devils, who are fighting for their future after a disastrous takeover that has left them with only two senior players due to the repeated late payment of wages and several Super League fixtures being cancelled. The RFL receives £16m over five years from government in a deal managed by Sport England, with the money used to fund the elite end of the sport as represented by England's international teams and the development of the grassroots and recreational game. Sport England's concerns revolve around the processes involved in the return of Wood following the resignation of the former RFL chair Simon Johnson and three other directors this year. Wood was previously chief executive of the RFL for 11 years and received a £300,000 severance package following his departure in 2018, which accounted for almost one-sixth of the governing body's losses at the time. The Code for Sports Governance states the chairs of governing bodies must be independent, but Wood was chair of the Championship club Bradford Bulls before being appointed. While he has relinquished that role at Bradford he remains on the club's board. Wood initially returned to the RFL in March as senior independent director before taking the title of interim chair, which was made permanent last month. He has also been appointed chair of Rugby League Commercial, the body that manages the sport's broadcasting and sponsorship sales. In addition to Wood's links to Bradford, Sport England is expected to ask questions about the processes involved in his appointment, and whether any other potential candidates were interviewed. In March RFL sources insisted it would not be a long-term arrangement. Since returning to the RFL Wood has been instrumental in driving through an expansion of Super League from 12 to 14 clubs for next season, although Hull FC, Hull KR and Wigan Warriors failed to endorse the plan when it was voted through by the other nine clubs last month. In another twist Bradford are one of the clubs pushing to be promoted from the Championship to the expanded Super League, which has raised eyebrows given Wood's previous role. As the Guardian revealed last month, Sky Sports has also yet to endorse the expansion and has made it clear it will not provide additional funding for the extra clubs to cover the final season of its three-year TV deal, which expires at the end of next season. In addition, it is unclear who will cover the approximate £500,000 cost of televising an extra game across 27 rounds next season. Some Championship clubs vying for promotion as part of expansion plans have indicated they are willing to enter Super League without central funding next season, which has raised further concerns about its competitiveness in the light of the Salford debacle. Salford were thrashed 80-6 by Hull FC last week before Sunday's fixture against Wakefield was cancelled due to concerns over the safety of the younger players and triallists they were planning to field. Salford's owner, Dario Berta, has said the club will not go bust. They are due in court next month over an unpaid tax bill of almost £700,000.
BBC News
8 hours ago
- BBC News
Whitley Bay England rugby captain Ernest Taylor's grave restored
Relatives of a former England rugby union international who was known as the "prince of half-backs" have attended a ceremony to mark the restoration of his grave. Ernest William Taylor - known as Little Billie - made 14 appearances for England and captained his country seven times between 1894 Taylor's grand-daughter Maureen Ross contacted Whitley Bay Rockcliff RFC his former club arranged a rededication ceremony at his restored resting said the club had treated them "like family" and was so pleased that the grave of her late grandfather - who died in 1936 aged 67 - now "looks beautiful". The former England international's grandson Chris Taylor said: "It's very unique to have a grandfather who played for England and I'm very proud. "I certainly didn't inherit his sporting ability but we are all very proud of him."He said the ceremony meant a lot to the whole addition to turning out for England, Taylor captained Rockcliff RFC for five seasons and regularly led the county side between 1889 and 1903. Richard Bloomfield, from Rockcliff RFC, said "Little Billie" played for them following the club's formation in 1887."This grave is a fitting tribute to a local rugby legend," he said. Follow BBC Newcastle on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
