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.com

pix

ics: SW

Pcontroversy’ –

Cover: ‘Casinos and

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No. 06588772

Chronicle

Royal visit: HRH Prince Edward The Duke of Edinburgh is presented with a Leeds top, complete with birthday age, at AMT Headingley on March 8 SWpix.com

from Spencer Leniu’s admission of a racial slur to Ezra Mam, was that the NRL failed to generate big US TV numbers on Fox Spor ts 1. An average of 61,000 tuned into Manly’s win against Souths, with a peak of 79,000, and only 44,000 watched the Roosters’ clash with Brisbane. Such figures are however not dissimilar to some Major Soccer League games and viewing figures back in Australia were at an all-time high for the opening round. What remains to be calculated is how many Americans took out Watch NRL app subscriptions after liking what they saw and how many viewers made the most of all the gambling options on offer. n Stacey Jones will lead the Kiwis into the next World Cup as new men’s head coach having succeeded Michael Maguire, while ex-Australia captain and NSW State of Origin boss Laurie Daley joins the IRL board as an independent director. Chair Troy Grant said: “Laurie brings exceptional playing, coaching, administrative and grassroots perspective. A lot of our nations are star t-ups, in a way, and he will

bring a wealth of experience and insights to help us with future capacity building for nations.” Daley himself added: “It is a great honour to be involved in helping to develop the international game. We want to tr y to get as many people and as many countries as possible playing the game.” Meanwhile, the NRL is pushing ahead with plans for an expanded 12-team NRLW competition next year, with Canterbur y and NZ Warriors front-r unners to join. n London may be str uggling on the field in their return to the top flight, but their commercial pull from being back among the big boys is beyond doubt following the announcement of a front-of-shir t sponsorship deal with drinks giants BrewDog. The accompanying press release claimed: ‘...it will look to increase the profile of the club whilst engaging a new suppor t base, specifically in the south of England. BrewDog are disr uptors in the drinks industr y and London Broncos see the brand as a synergy as they begin to establish their team outside of the rugby league hear tland.’

Good call

“Kicking off in the entertainment capital of the US, the strategy is sound... they are on to something... but I will tell them and all the fans, it is going to take time...” – Al Guido, president of the San Francisco 49ers

Big call

“A World Club Challenge is perfect [for Las Vegas]. We are one league family split between the Pacific, Northern England and France and need to unify at a halfway point...” – Trent Robinson

Poor call

“Just a little bit of banter on the field. Whatever he wants to do with it, he can come and see me after if he wants...” – Roosters prop Spencer Leniu after indigenous Brisbane back Ezra Mam alleged he called him a ‘monkey’ in Vegas

n Touch RL will be back bigger and better in 2024 following impressive growth last year. Premier Touch RL stages two events this summer – a qualifying tournament in June at the Allam Spor ts Centre in Hull, before Finals Day on August Bank Holiday with a return to Wigan’s Robin Park Arena. And X-League player s across the countr y are set for the fir st Grand Prix of 2024, confirmed to take place on Saturday 20 April at the home of Warrington Titans. Three GPs are scheduled for the limited contact ver sion with more to be confirmed before a national event to round off the season on Saturday 19 October at Sheffield Hallam University. n Among six international rights contracts announced, the growing interest for the spor t in Africa will be fur ther catered for by ESPN showing two Betfred Super League matches a week on the continent. An increasingly significant number of player s with African roots will see their progress eager ly char ted, including Jayden Okunbur of Hull FC (Nigeria and Zimbabwe), Moses Mbye of St Helens (Gambia), Kruise Leeming of Wigan Warriors (Eswatini), Justin Sangare of Leeds Rhinos (Mali) and Muizz Mustapha of Castleford Tiger s (Nigeria). “We are excited to add Super League to our programming this year,” said Kyle De Kler k, the Walt Disney Company’s director of spor t in Africa. “Knowing the passion our audience has for rugby this enthralling league promises exhilarating action.” n The RFL has appointed Dr Dane Vishnubala as the spor t’s new chief medical officer to succeed Professor Chris Brookes. Vishnubala is a consultant physician in spor t and exercise medicine with the militar y, an academic doctor at the University of Leeds and a visiting professor in SEM at the University of Derby.

The governing body has also unveiled a new Respect policy under the banner : “Together let’s make our game better.” n The National Conference

League, whose season has just

kicked off, will allow its clubs to

field player s who have professional contracts for the fir st time in 2024, under new dual registration regulations. Each of the NCL’s clubs across four divisions will be able to register up to six contracted player s during the season, although only two will be able to play in any one fixture.

43Forty204March 2024