Realignment announced

[The Future is League]

23 hours ago, Bedfordshire Bronco said:

Involves creating a third body?

Surely just merging to form a single body is better?

Exactly. One body one building and less staff saving money

[Man of Kent]

World-renowned sports industry firm IMG to become rugby league's new strategic partner

[gingerjon]

42 minutes ago, Man of Kent said:

World-renowned sports industry firm IMG to become rugby league's new strategic partner

Thankfully the world moves on and this looks really interesting.

Their involvement with RLWC 2017 did not end well.

[Dave T]

4 minutes ago, gingerjon said:

Thankfully the world moves on and this looks really interesting.

Their involvement with RLWC 2017 did not end well.

Didn't we end up in a legal battle with them, or have I dreamt that? 

[gingerjon]

4 minutes ago, Dave T said:

Didn't we end up in a legal battle with them, or have I dreamt that? 

I can't remember the details but they were the rights holder and lost money when rights didn't sell - which impacted the amount the tournament was able to hand over to the world body. No idea how, or if, it was resolved.

[Dave T]

34 minutes ago, gingerjon said:

I can't remember the details but they were the rights holder and lost money when rights didn't sell - which impacted the amount the tournament was able to hand over to the world body. No idea how, or if, it was resolved.

I have something in my head about legal issues and rights problems in PNG or something. 

But I suppose IMG are huge and have different divisions, hopefully we partner with a competent one! I know we have used IMG before for tv deal negotiations. Although none were as valuable as Nigel Woods. 

[Man of Kent]

Barney Francis works for IMG. Can’t be coincidence that since he left Sky, IMG are suddenly all over Super League like a rash. Perhaps he saw the untapped potential?

[RL Sonja]

Sounds like the way the RFL and BARLA used to behave. That too was highly unproductive. 

[gingerjon]

12 hours ago, Man of Kent said:

Barney Francis works for IMG. Can’t be coincidence that since he left Sky, IMG are suddenly all over Super League like a rash. Perhaps he saw the untapped potential?

As said, they've been involved before. I'd forgotten about their attempts with the TV rights but, yup, that was them too.

It is a positive but until they actually produce results it's just potential.