RLEF working on eight-year strategy

The RLEF are working on the new 2018-25 strategy following a record-breaking year.

There are now 21 RLEF members with a further four preparing to lodge observer applications in 2018.

General Manager, Danny Kazandijan, said: “Rugby league’s presence has grown quite dramatically this year.

“A number of strategic objectives have been achieved, with Bulgaria, Cameroon, Greece and Turkey all admitted as observer nations.

“The latter three all have multiple clubs and are well positioned to become members by the end of next year and we have implemented benchmarks to systematically achieve that.

“Significantly, the Netherlands and Germany both became affiliate members, the first nations since Spain in 2015, demonstrating stability both on and off the pitch.

“Seeing new members is really encouraging as it shows genuine progress in all the key areas, especially in terms of domestic competition.

“We’re entering the final few months of the current strategic cycle.

“We’re currently writing the new 2018-25 strategy and the progress that has been made is very encouraging mainly thanks to the hard work on the ground from largely volunteer-driven governing bodies; 2017 has been characteristic of that progress.”