THE fracas over the Rugby Football League’s plans to introduce its National Community Rugby League (NCRL) initiative continues.
Open-age competitions particularly affected by the RFL’s blueprint, which Community Board chair Martin Coyd OBE insists will take effect from next spring, are the National Conference League, the Barrow League and the Holmen Iggesund Cumberland League.
The NCL, which will in reality be dismantled (on its 40th birthday) with its top two divisions operating under the RFL as ‘National Leagues’ and teams in the lower two switching to regional leagues, could yet invoke legal action.
Meanwhile the RFL hasn’t got back to me with any update as to their own position although, as readers will learn elsewhere in this issue, folk in the Barrow area are very forthright regarding the impact of the NCRL (and the launch of a Cumbria League) on their own clubs’ futures.
As it happens the RFL’s Martin Coyd OBE, who is leading the NCRL initiative, got in touch with me last Monday regarding my comments in that day’s Talking Grassroots column.
Coyd, who is the chair of the Community Board (until, I understand, the middle of next year, which may go some way to explaining why the new structure must be in place by the spring) said: “I note that you made a comparison between Wales and the RFL about a ‘strategy’ and suggested that the RFL could learn from Wales.
“I have attached a copy of the RFL’s Game Wide Review, which is the RFL plan for 2020-30. We are halfway through the programme timetable and the creation of (what is now named) the NCRL is referred to on page 11 under ‘Build and develop a One Game structure’.
“This is available on the RFL website, has been distributed to clubs and is referenced at Community Board on a routine basis.”
What does the document say on Page 11? Here it is: “Support the development of coherent competition structures, calendars and rules across the game including new playing offers; continue to monitor impact of the Scholarship system and communicate action to stakeholders by December 2020; develop strategy to foster stronger links between the education setting and wider community game.”
It was news to me, although I wouldn’t question Coyd’s assertion and someone, somewhere, might well unearth an old copy of a League Express in which I’ve reflected on that passage. Perhaps the machinations of the Community Board are, despite that body’s best intentions, a little too dense.
It seems to be the case that a number of people who have actually served on the Community Board appear to have been caught by surprise by the moves, for example, to restructure/dismantle (take your own pick over the choice of words) the National Conference League, while considerations regarding the future of BARLA’s National and County Cups (at open age and/or youth levels) also seem to have gone over people’s heads.
It’s all very odd, although the proof of the pudding may be there for us all to see in a year or so from now, by which stage we might well have an inkling as to whether the RFL’s plan will work.
I hope, for the game itself and for the sake of those individuals at the RFL who have rammed through their ideas in the face of strong opposition from people with huge experience at the coalface, that the NCRL has been a huge success.
If not, in the words of one stalwart (who actually took the words out of my own mouth): “We all want the game to prosper and grow and hopefully once the dust settles, these changes might be the shot in the arm the game requires … we can only wait and see as this is the RFL’s making, so success or failure lies firmly on their shoulders.”
We’ll see, including at Primary RL level, where much is also happening. A release by the RFL late last week announced that, from 2026, there will now be no ‘marker’ at play-the-balls, that under nines will continue to play a full set of six regardless of errors or tries scored, and that under tens will turn over possession after a try but will be allowed two errors in a set.
“The coaching team will undertake a broader review of the PRL rules during 2026, with a view to evolving them further in 2027,” stated Kelly Barrett of the RFL.
Plenty to take in throughout the sport, then. What I do know, though, is that Rob Hawkins is the winner of the 2025 Wheelchair Golden Boot.
It’s a richly deserved repeat recognition for the England winger, who also scooped the accolade in 2024.
It’s a terrific achievement and a wonderful early Christmas present for the maestro – hearty congratulations, Rob!