It was with a sad heart I read the article this week about the almost £1m cut in funding for rugby league via it’s Sport England allocation. The cut comes from the failure to hit participation targets within the sport.
There is not doubt the Rugby League have been working hard to promote and spread our game. Perhaps there are questions we should be asking:
- Were the initial target too ambitious?
- Has the engagement strategy been a sound one?
- Could aspects of the funding been used more creatively to encourage greater take up?
The cuts will take place over the next two years, meaning a 3.35% reduction in the £29.4m allocation originally agreed back in 2009.
The RFL, who pointed to an increase of 55,000 adults and secondary schoolchildren registered to play in the game in England last year, have put on a brave face at the setback, insisting it will not hamper the sport's ambitions.
My disappointment with the news is more about my desire to see the sport have a far greater reach other than it’s traditional heartland of the M62 corridor (of course, with the odd exceptions……).
I suppose in our shared disappointment we should take great heart that Sky have renewed it substantial commitment to our wonderful sport. £90m over 5 years ensures we have a solid platform to promote our game. Let’s hope the powers that be get their creative heads together to continue to build our brand, and steer our clubs to grow their reach.
