In April 2024, Wales Rugby League appointed businessman and British and Irish Lions international, Richard Hibbard, as Chief Executive. As the one-year anniversary of his time in post approaches, he has reflected on his tenure so far and looked ahead to the future.
In the 12 months since I was appointed CEO, there’s been a quiet revolution happening behind the scenes at Wales Rugby League.
Led by our Chair, James Davies, major changes at Board level have brought a new sense of stability and direction, finally giving us the platform we need to push on.
What people may not know, is that almost everyone involved in Wales Rugby League – from the Chair, to myself as CEO, to the Board, coaches, team managers and beyond – gives their time as volunteers. No salaries. No perks. Just passion. It’s the heartbeat of everything we do. That in itself is an incredible testament to the selfless, brilliant people who keep the wheels turning at WRL.
I’ll reflect on some of the achievements in the last year, but I think it’s important to set the context and be crystal clear – we’re doing what we do with just £45,384 of central funding a year. That’s not a typo. That’s the reality.
Just £7,239 of that can be spent on performance. We must constantly consider whether we can afford to put our teams on the pitch. That should never be a question. But it is. And we face it head on. And despite the financial mountain we climb daily, we are not just surviving – we are thriving.
Take last summer. Our Women’s team made history, beating the Netherlands to qualify for a first-ever World Cup. That one weekend cost us around £12,000 to travel the day before, play, and return by lunchtime the next day. That one victory – a moment that will live in Welsh sporting history forever – cost nearly double our annual talent funding. That’s the scale of what we’re up against.
Like our Women’s team, our Wheelchair squad will also be heading to Australia next year to compete in the World Cup. Our Men’s team just came up short out in France in the European qualifiers last Autumn. We strive to give our athletes every chance of qualifying and competing on a world stage against the best teams. The Wheelchair team play in the Celtic Cup this May at Cardiff Metropolitan University. Fixtures for our U16s, U18s and Students are in place, and we’re working hard to confirm a full slate of games for both Men’s and Women’s senior teams.
Youth teams, Wheelchair Rugby League, Physical Disability RL, Students – they are all self-funded. That means players, families, and communities pulling together to make it happen. And it does happen. Because we share a responsibility to protect this sport. Not just today, but for the long term.
Thanks to smart, hard-fought commercial partnerships over the past 12 months, we’ve achieved notable milestones, including bringing the Men’s team back to Welsh soil for the first time since 2018.
Our community game has continued to grow, with playing fields across Wales buzzing with kids falling in love with rugby league. Since 2021, participation has grown by 201 percent. Across the border, the Government and Sport England have recognised the role rugby league plays in strengthening communities and tackling inequalities. We share the same passion and drive but the impact we have is limited by the lack of recognition we receive. And still, we continue.
We’ve rebranded our domestic Men’s competition to the JES Group Rugby League Conference, creating a more unified and competitive structure for all community sides. And this season will see many new age-grade teams taking to the field. We’re already into the third season of our invitational Wheelchair league.
We’ve partnered with Neath RFC to make The Lextan Gnoll the official home of Wales Rugby League, a huge step in building our identity and providing a professional base for our programmes.
We now have around 40 young Welsh players in Super League Scholarships and Academies – the clearest sign yet that our pathway is working.
North Wales Crusaders continue to fly the flag in the north as our only semi-professional club, backed by ambitious new owners making waves on and off the pitch, including bringing their women’s team underneath the same banner as the men. In the south, Cardiff Demons are blazing the trail in the Women’s game, beating Super League opposition again just a couple of weeks ago. Elevation to Super League itself is a real possibility if we had more resources to support.
Every day, we fight for fairness. Rugby league is a sport built on overcoming adversity, and our spirit is no different. It’s hard. But most things worth doing are.
When people talk about rugby league in Wales, they talk about the history. Rightly so. From being part of our first ever international in 1908; to the trailblazing codebreakers; to the unforgettable class of 1995 with icons like Scott Quinnell and Jonathan Davies storming to a World Cup semi-final, this country has always punched above its weight.
But this isn’t just a sport with a proud history. It has a present worth shouting about, and a future to believe in. We’ll celebrate all three at an event this Autumn, details of which will be announced soon.
This summer, pitches across Wales will come alive with men, women, and children playing rugby league – a fast, fearless, action-packed sport you simply can’t take your eyes off. The revolution is getting louder all the time.
To contact Richard for a chat about how you can become involved in Wales Rugby League, send an email to richard.hibbard@walesrugbyleague.co.uk
