Published on Thursday 2 February 2012 09:50
Tomorrow night sees the return of Super League, thus signalling the end of the most eventful winter hiatus I can recall, and the return of Farrell’s Forum.
The off-season has brought about several notable changes to rugby league as we know it. Firstly, and perhaps most importantly, in terms of securing the future financial status (albeit not directly) of the game at the top level, the RFL has announced a controversial, new three-year sponsorship deal with the Stobart Group.
Controversial because the haulage giant isn’t actually paying a penny to the 14 clubs in what will now be known as the Stobart Super League.
Instead 100, of its 2000-strong fleet will be emblazoned with a combination of the Super League logo, and teams and player pictures.
The level of marketing exposure which Super League will look to garner from the deal is reputedly worth up to £2.5 million per year, and was supported by a majority of nine of the fourteen Super League clubs.
Ironically, Super League XVII will kick-off at Widnes’ Stobart Stadium as they face Wakefield Trinity Wildcats.
Another fresh, interesting, and in my opinion, positive development in rugby league during the off-season is the foundation of a new players’ union, the Super League Players’ Association, chaired by St Helens’ Jon Wilkin.
The SLPA, which is yet to be officially recognised by the RFL, aims to provide an outlet for players’ voices to be heard, as well as a counselling service, and provide representation for players during wage negotiations and contract talks.
Rugby league players who previously required union support were represented by an arm of the GMB Union, however with the creation of the SLPA, they now have a union to address issues specific to rugby league, which should swing the balance of power more favourably towards the players.
I feel, at this point, that I should out myself and admit to something I’m not entirely proud of or comfortable with.
I love Celebrity Big Brother. There, I’ve said it. It’s out there.
It’s a guilty pleasure and I’m not going to try to defend it. However, this year’s CBB was made all the more watchable, not for the bevy of buxom young ladies that inhabited the house (although that helped), but for the altogether more manly sight of cross-code rugby legend, Gareth Thomas.
During his time in the house, Thomas became something akin to a nation’s sweetheart.
He never once became embroiled in any
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