A deal for the Australian NRL to buy a stake in Super League, England’s top rugby league competition, is nearing completion but may not begin until 2028, prompting concern for London Broncos, City AM understands.
Executives from the sport’s two premier competitions – including Rugby League commercial managing director Rhodri Jones and Aussie rugby league supremo Peter V’landys – have been thrashing out details of the proposed investment in Sydney during the current Rugby League World Cup.
But the deal, which is understood to be in its final stages ahead of an announcement at the back end of next week, may not in fact begin until 2028.
It leaves the future of the London Broncos’ participation in the Super League next year in the balance, with the Australian-owned Championship team relying on vocal NRL support to become the 15th team in the top flight next season.
The NRL is believed to be in favour of the side from the capital being in Super League, seeing their inclusion as a key marketing pull.
Sources with knowledge of the deal insist its completion is in its closing stages, with heads of terms set to be agreed within days.
Super League investment delay
Both organisations would then need approval from their domestic councils but global sport streaming platform Dazn is set to be announced as broadcaster of the Super League, ending a long-standing relationship with Sky Sports as the main TV partner.
A flurry of announcements is expected to confirm the future of Super League ownership, with London Broncos likely to be sweating over whether they will be included in the top flight next season.
The Londoners, who would become the only English Super League side south of Warrington, were last year purchased by an Australian consortium led by mining magnate Grant Wechsel and NRL legend Darren Lockyer.
Some have suggested NRL investors could take a stake in the Broncos – who play their home games at AFC Wimbledon – with a number of other clubs set to discuss cash injections from Down Under.