Ralph Rimmer gets RFL top job

AFTER being appointed the Rugby Football League's new chief executive, Ralph Rimmer said he is 'convinced that exciting times lie ahead' for the sport and he insists he 'understands its changing landscape.'
New Rugby Football League chief executive Ralph RimmerNew Rugby Football League chief executive Ralph Rimmer
New Rugby Football League chief executive Ralph Rimmer

He takes over the governing body with immediate effect having been interim CEO since the long-serving Nigel Wood stood down in January.

Rimmer had been the RFL’s chief operating officer since 2010 and, after Wood’s exit, immediately signalled his intention to go for the top job.

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Six months later, and after what the governing body call a “thorough and robust recruitment process” led by an external and independent recruitment consultancy attracting a field of “exceptional” candidates from inside and outside of the sport, he has it.

The appointment decision was made by the RFL’s non-executive directors.

One of Rimmer’s immediate tasks will be to lead the sport through a worrying time where the majority of Super League clubs seem to be at loggerheads with Leeds Rhinos plus Championship and League 1 clubs about the direction rugby league needs to move in.

With Super League looking to take more control of their own finances, and preferring a change in format that would see the end of the Super 8s, there is plenty to be discussed.

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RFL chairman Brian Barwick said; “I am absolutely delighted that Ralph is to become the new Chief Executive of the Rugby Football League.

“Ralph is a Rugby League man through and through and has extensive knowledge of the sport at every level.

“He is a person of enormous integrity, a straight-talker and somebody who gets things done.

“He also has the respect of those in the sport for regularly demonstrating those qualities. He is the right person at the right time to be the Executive in charge of our organisation.

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"Ralph has huge ambitions for the future of the sport as well as dealing with the 'here and now' issues of the game.

"Ralph will start in his new role immediately and the RFL Board offer their sincere congratulations and their total support for their new CEO.”

The Cumbrian was Sheffield Eagles chief executive during the early days of Super League and helped take the club to their famous Challenge Cup Final win in 1998. He held the post of CEO of Huddersfield Giants from 1999 to 2004 before becoming managing director of the Galpharm Stadium for six years.

Rimmer said: “I am thrilled to be appointed as CEO of the Rugby Football League.

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“I am passionate about the sport and I am honoured to hold this position.

“I have always taken my responsibilities within the sport extremely seriously, and I take up this role with a 100 per cent commitment to driving Rugby League forward.

“I have very many strong relationships within the game and I intend to work collaboratively with all to achieve its future growth and success.

“I believe that I understand its changing landscape, and am hugely ambitious as to what we can achieve together in the future, including maximising the significant opportunities presented by a home World Cup in 2021.

“I am convinced that exciting times lie ahead.”

Meanwhile, following an event at MediaCity this morning, the RLWC2021 team today announced details of the £10m ‘Inspired by RLWC2021’ Legacy Facilities Fund for grassroots rugby league.

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