PRESS RELEASE: London Rugby League Foundation

PRESS RELEASE: London Rugby League Foundation

London Broncos are delighted to announce that the club has become the sole Member of the London Rugby League Foundation.

The London Broncos Rugby League Foundation was originally launched in 2009, as the then Harlequins Rugby League Foundation, before the RFL took over the Membership in 2015. This has since been known as the London Rugby League Foundation.

In reverting back to London Broncos being the sole Member of the foundation this will enable far better collaboration and coordination between the London Broncos, the Community Clubs and the RFL for the benefit of the game as a whole. The benefits of such collaboration can already be seen in:

• The Broncos efforts to encourage Community Club members to attend their Super League matches at AFC Wimbledon this year with a record number of Community Club members attending.
• The Broncos enabling two Community Clubs to play an U14s match in the AFC Wimbledon Stadium as a curtain raiser to their win against Hull FC and a hundred Primary Rugby League players from Community Clubs played in a festival at the stadium ahead of the match against Hull KR.
• A high number of Community Club players have attended the London Broncos Lions Development Days for U12s to U15s and the London Broncos Origin Trials at U16s and U18s. 

The Community Game will also continue to have significant involvement in the Foundation, as the Community Club Awards and Grants to Community Clubs will continue to be determined by a panel comprising the Foundation, the RFL and the London Junior League, and the Foundation will continue to provide grants to Community Clubs across the region. The RFL will also continue to have significant influence, as it will appoint two Trustees to the Board of the Foundation. 

Richard Jones, who will continue as Chair of the Foundation, having been re-appointed as a Trustee by the RFL, said, "I am really excited that the London Broncos will become the sole Member of the London Rugby League Foundation. This will make the collaboration between the Broncos, the Community Clubs and the RFL far better, help the Foundation give the Community Clubs more support, and help to grow the game even more across London and the South-East."

Aaqil Ahmed will also continue as a Trustee of the Foundation, having been re-appointed by the RFL. The London Broncos have appointed Jason Loubser and John Keyes as its Trustees.

London Broncos Chief Executive Jason Loubser said; “This is an exciting announcement as it will help us to continue to grow the sport of Rugby League here in London. We will continue to combine the work that we do as a club with the great work that both the foundation and the junior leagues have been doing.”

The RFL’s Southern Regions Development Manager Stephen Guan says: ‘’On the eve of Challenge Cup Finals Day, where all Rugby League eyes fall on London, this is a positive announcement for the game in the capital. This collaborative partnership will provide clarity about the Foundation situation across the region and between the two organisations. It will also provide the London Rugby League Foundation with extra support allowing for a stronger impact and further programme delivery opportunities across the sport, which the RFL will continue to support’’