The 21st Annual Council Meeting of European Rugby League has taken place, with members attending virtually from across all three regions of the company’s operation – Europe, Middle East & Africa and the Americas.
They received the Annual Report – which can be found here – and heard about plans for activity in 2024. A resolution was passed to form a working group to explore member needs and to assist federations to grow and be more sustainable which will be presided over by ERL chair Dean Andrew, more details of which will be confirmed in due course.
“The Annual Council Meeting presents an opportunity to review our operation and there are plenty of positives and achievements for us to reflect on,” said Andrew. “It is also an opportunity to ensure that our members are fully briefed on the current position of the organisation and be clear on the challenges that we all face, as well as ensuring we have a unified approach to dealing with them. I am very grateful to all our members for their continued efforts internationally and domestically within their countries and look forward to supporting them with these ambitions on an ongoing basis.”
Brian Juliff (Wales) was returned for a second term as a member-elected director following his first three years in office, whilst Andrew paid tribute to departing independent director Paul Nicholson who reaches the end of his term.
“Paul, who also served us as director of International Rugby League, has given ten years of brilliant service to the ERL,” noted Andrew. “He has a huge knowledge of the sports broadcasting and commercial markets and has been a valuable source of information to both our board and executive during his tenure. His style is very forthright and he has held the organisation to account to its members regularly, and I am grateful that he has offered to continue to advise ERL on various matters going forward to help us in our pursuit of growing the sport.”
Andrew also paid glowing tribute to former Scotland Rugby League chairperson Keith Hogg who passed away earlier this year.