A FORMER Hull KR commercial guru is to help grow Rugby League in the Netherlands.
Craig Franklin has been appointed commercial director by the governing body for the game in the northwestern European country.
Franklin will undertake the voluntary, advisory role alongside his full-time position with OXEN Sports.
He became brand director at the UK-based sportswear manufacturers, who supply a string of Rugby League clubs, in March.
That was after twelve years at Hull KR, initially as marketing manager, then head of marketing, communications and ticketing, then chief operating officer.
Franklin played his part in the transformation on and off the field of the club who won last year’s Super League Grand Final, and in February, the World Club Challenge.
He was central to the organisation of the 2025 Amsterdam Challenge, in which Rovers played York in a pre-season match in the city.
Franklin worked as Manchester United Football Club’s digital marketing manager before joining Rovers.
Nederlandse Rugby League Bond president Craig Shepherd said: “This is a major appointment and a real statement of our ambition.
“Craig has worked at the highest levels of the commercial side of professional sport. His experience will be enormously valuable to us and he believes in what we are building.
“We want to expand our domestic competitions, create more opportunities for men, women and young people to play, strengthen our national teams and establish the Netherlands as one of Europe’s leading Rugby League nations.
“To achieve that, we must build stronger commercial foundations. Craig understands how to develop brands, engage audiences, create meaningful value for partners and turn exciting ideas into sustainable programmes.”
Franklin added: “Having helped bring Hull KR to Amsterdam in 2025, I have seen first-hand the potential for Rugby League in the Netherlands. I believe we can build something genuinely exciting in the country.”