Etihad becomes RFL’s new home
THE Rugby Football League is set to move into a new National Rugby League Centre at the Etihad Campus – the home of Premier League leaders Manchester City.
The RFL, currently based at Red Hall in Leeds, will complete its switch to the state-ofthe-art headquarters in time for the home World Cup in 2021.
“The move to the Etihad Campus is a genuinely exciting prospect and underlines the governing body’s ambition to develop rugby league across the spectrum of the sport,” said RFL chairman Brian Barwick.
“We want rugby league to be a sport that future generations want to take part in and everyone has the chance to be involved with.
“This move will play its part in helping deliver that aspiration.”
The move will see the RFL become a major tenant in the next phase of the site’s development.
The Kevin Sinfield-led Rugby League England Performance Unit will move into the facility later this year.
“Moving to the Etihad Campus will be transformational for the sport of rugby league on and off the field,” said RFL interim chief executive Ralph Rimmer.
“The world-class facilities that will be made available to every level of the England set-up, from youth through to senior men’s and women’s, will mean that our international squads will have access to some of the best training, recovery and on-field sporting facilities available anywhere in the world.”
The RFL board unanimously approved the proposal from Manchester City Council and the City Football Group in February.
Sir Richard Leese, leader of Manchester City Council, said: “The arrival of a national governing body, which oversees one of the most popular sports in the country, is another major boost for the city.
“And in particular the Etihad Campus which is already the home of British Cycling and English squash as well as Manchester City FC, and a host of world-class sports facilities for both elite and community use.
“It perfectly complements our vision for the Etihad Campus as a globally competitive sport and leisure cluster which will continue to act as a powerful catalyst for the ongoing regeneration of East Manchester and underlines its status as an epicentre for all sports.”