Super League confirm investment offer from Australian Rugby League Commission
Super League confirmed on Thursday that it had received an investment offer from the Australian Rugby League Commission, the competition said in a brief statement.
Discussions between the two parties have been ongoing since last year, the statement added. Peter V'landys told BBC Sport last October that Super League was in danger of "a crash" if it did not find new ways to grow revenue. In April, NRL chief executive Andrew Abdo said concerns that a deal would lead to a talent drain from Super League were "completely unfounded".
Abdo told BBC Sport: "What we're trying to achieve is to make rugby league in the UK and Europe as strong as possible," and he added: "That's the exact opposite of it becoming a feeder pathway program." Abdo also said that the NRL were looking for a partnership with Super League rather than a takeover of it.
Head of RL Commercial Rhodri Jones described the negotiations between Super League and the NRL as "encouraging." He said: "The sport is open minded to investment," and added: "The NRL is a natural fit. They are probably the front leaders in the negotiations that we are currently having with various parties."
When asked if the ARLC wanted to decide the make-up of an independent commission that would run Super League, Jones said: "That's their demand at this point in time." He continued: "But at the moment, you could say that is a 'red line', because it's important that the UK game is represented. There is independence in our governance structure already." Leeds Rhinos chairman Paul Caddick is among those to have raised concerns at the prospect of investment, previously saying, "we have no intention of being swallowed up".
The Super League began in 1996 when rugby league's premier European competition moved to being a summer competition. Hull KR became the fifth team to win Super League when they beat Wigan Warriors in the 2025 Grand Final. Their 2025 triumph saw them join St Helens, Wigan Warriors, Leeds Rhinos and Bradford Bulls as the only teams to have claimed the title.
Rugby League commercial said Super League's 14 clubs had been informed of the offer on Thursday and that details "remain confidential."