The Rugby Football League chief executive, Nigel Wood, has suggested that the World Club Series could be revamped in 2017, with games set to be taken to Australia for the first time if the current three-game format is extended.
Since its inception in 2015, Super League sides have hosted all six games in the two World Club Series to date – with the NRL winning all six encounters so far, including the most recent three at the beginning of this season.
And Wood revealed at a media briefing on Wednesday that talks are ongoing about whether to extend or decrease the format, which could mean a reduction to a two-game series or even an expansion into a four-game event next year.
“As the bare minimum we want to have the series as a two-game event next year,” he said. “But we’ve got to understand what the NRL clubs want and we have to work with them. We’ve got clubs over here with varying views and the NRL clubs are the same too, it’s about finding the ideal balance.”
Wood also confirmed that some Super League sides have already expressed an interest to play in Australia if the series is expanded. Traditionally the World Club Challenge – which pits the winners of Super League against the NRL champions – has been played in Australia in the past, but no World Club Series games have been taken there since the event was expanded last year.
“The expectation is that it will be over here again, but there’s a number of discussions taking place surrounding matches maybe going to Australia as well,” Wood said. “I know it’s not satisfactory to have anything concrete but that’s where we’re at. I know of at least two clubs that would welcome the opportunity to play over there and if it expanded to four games, there would be games on both sides of the world.”
The Observer revealed last month how the England coach, Wayne Bennett, told Super League clubs earlier this year that he wanted a mid-season international in advance of next year’s World Cup, and Wood confirmed talks are under way about whether the fixture will be played in the northern or southern hemisphere.
“We’ll be flying half the squad around the world anyway,” Wood said, alluding to England’s growing contingent of NRL-based players. “It will be wherever it needs to be; wherever the best calibre of opposition can be found, that’s where it will be. It could be overseas, but if the best opposition is in the northern hemisphere, we’ll play it here.”
The RFL is inviting applications for a new Super League general manager after the previous incumbent, Blake Solly, departed for NRL side South Sydney in May, and Wood revealed that the process to find Solly’s replacement is still some way from being concluded.
“There’s been a very good response, and there’s north of 20 credible applications,” he said. “We’d hope to get it done as quickly as possible but it depends on the candidate and what sort of notice period they’re locked into with their current job, as we expect them to be in a high-profile role.”
