MP calls for greater financial support for Rugby League ahead of World Cup

WARRINGTON North MP Charlotte Nichols is calling for greater financial support from the Government for Rugby League ahead of next year’s World Cup.

Ms Nichols took part in a Parliamentary Adjournment Debate on, ‘Covid-19: Support for Rugby League’

She told the House of Commons, “With the rugby league world cup taking place next year including the first-ever physical disability rugby league world cup, which will be hosted in Warrington… the financial package of support for rugby league is so important not only for proud rugby league communities like our own, but for the entire country because of the tourism revenue that will be generated as a result.”
Sports Minister Nigel Huddleston told the debate that his department “has been working with colleagues in the Treasury and with the sports sector to assess the scale of support required and the timescales within which it is needed. That has included further work with the RFL to understand the challenges for rugby league as we head into the forthcoming winter. We are working with the Treasury on those proposals now, and we hope to be able to announce the outcome of these discussions shortly.”

Following the debate, Ms Nichols added: “Clubs like Warrington Wolves need an urgent package of support from Government and I will continue to fight for one.
“We need to maintain the future of the game, not only for the World Cup and Physical Disability Rugby League World Cup taking place in Warrington next year, but also to ensure that the next generation of Warrington Wolves players are able to flourish and that the Warrington Wolves Charitable Foundation can continue to support our community.
“As an aside, which speaks to the diversity and inclusivity of rugby league as a sport, it was great to see all the Labour speakers for rugby league communities in the debate (including Yvette Cooper, whose debate it was) were all women!”