Super League have received an investment offer from the Australia Rugby League Commission (ARLC) which governs the National Rugby League (NRL) in Australia.
Conversations have long been occurring between Australia’s governing body and Europe’s, with a formal offer now having been received.
In a statement, Super League said: “RL Commercial can confirm that a first offer has been received from the ARLC (Australian Rugby League Commission) as part of the sport’s recapitalisation project.
“The Super League clubs have been informed this morning.
“Details of the offer remain confidential.”
Former NRL chief executive Andrew Abdo spoke to Sky Sports back in April about the NRL’s planned involvement in Super League. He was over in the UK for talks about the move.
He said it was a move focused on the “globalisation” of rugby league with a view to ensure that rugby league in the UK and Europe is governed by an independent commission, similar to the set up of the ARLC.
ARLC Chairman Peter V’Landys is now understood to be leading the talks.
“We really believe in the globalisation of rugby league,” Abdo told Sky Sports.
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NRL CEO Andrew Abdo joins Sky Sports’ Bryan Carney as he explains the NRL’s intentions with the Super League and what involvement could potentially look like.
“This is a great game and we want to take it to as many people as possible. We want to win as many fans as possible.
“So while the game is growing really well in the southern hemisphere, we also want the game to be strong here in the north.
“This is about a partnership where we can collaborate on how we can grow the game, how we can grow revenues and how can those revenues be pumped back into the game?
“That’s pretty nuanced and that’s something we have to develop together.”
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On The Bench podcast, Kris Radlinski and Karl Fitzpatrick discuss the possibility of the NRL merging with the Super League.
RL Commercial managing director Rhodri Jones added on the talks from April: “They would like to have a heavy influence on the commission and who sits on that commission.
“What they perhaps haven’t understood in totality is the make up of our governance structure in this country.
“We have multiple organisations in RFL, Super League and RL Commercial. When it is such a big topic like recapitalisation, it is complex.
“But with hard work, better detail, we can overcome some of these challenges so we can get to the right result that the sport wants.”
The talks have now moved into the next negotiation phase.
2026 Super League – key dates and what to look out for
- Elimination Play-offs: September 19-September 20
- Play-off semi-finals: September 26-September 27
- Grand Final: October 3, Old Trafford.
Sky Sports will again show every game of the Super League live this season – including two matches in each round exclusively live, with the remaining five matches each week shown on Sky Sports+
Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: skynews.com
