Rugby League

The Rugby Football League (RFL), governing body of rugby league in the UK, has signed a three-year extension to its commercial partnership with the Essentially agency.

A takeover bid for English Super League club Bradford Bulls has collapsed, leading to the rugby league outfit being docked six points for breaching operational rules the second time in three seasons.

Australia’s National Rugby League (NRL) has reported a record profit of A$49.6m (€32.7m/$44.8m) in the 2013 financial year, with the league’s finances boosted by the commencement of its new broadcast rights deal.

The Rugby League International Federation has confirmed that Australia and New Zealand will co-host the 2017 Rugby League World Cup national team tournament.

Eden Park chief executive David Kennedy has said the venue is keen to attract a State of Origin game following its successful staging of the inaugural Auckland Nines rugby league event at the weekend.

Leeds Rhinos chief executive Gary Hetherington has called on English Super League and Australian NRL officials to approve the expansion of the World Club Challenge from 2015 stating the move would present increased broadcast and commercial revenues for rugby league.

English Premier League club Manchester City has expanded its global empire by striking a deal to acquire a controlling stake in the Melbourne Heart franchise in Australia.

The European Super League is to be cut to 12 teams in 2015 with a return to relegation and promotion as part of a major overhaul of the rugby league club competition.

Darren Burden, the outgoing chief executive of Dunedin Venues Management Limited (DVML) in New Zealand, has defended his decision to leave his role just one year into a five-year contract.

Australia’s National Rugby League (NRL) has reached an in principle agreement with Prozone Sports which it states will make it a “world leader” in the use of high-performance data in rugby league.

Profits from the 2013 Rugby League World Cup are set to be reinvested into the international game, according to tournament organisers.

Sports performance analyst Sports Universal Process SAS, trading as Prozone, has acquired New Zealand-based specialist rugby analyst Verusco Technologies.

The Rugby League International Federation (RLIF) has approved expressions of interest from South Africa and a joint bid from Australia and New Zealand to host the 2017 Rugby League World Cup (RLWC).

England-based Super League rugby club Widnes Vikings has appointed Ian Cheveau head of communications.

The British Rugby Football League (RFL) has postponed discussions on proposed changes to its domestic Super League until after this year’s World Cup.

English Premier League’s Manchester United has extended its contract to host the Super League grand final at its Old Trafford ground for another four years.