A MEETING of NSW Rugby League members on October 18 will be asked to approve a new constitution in a landmark move that would allow Rugby League in NSW to be governed by one body for the first time in more than 80 years.
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The NSWRL and Country Rugby League (CRL) announced details in August 2018 of their joint vision plans to work towards a merger into a single entity by November 1 2020, but both parties have worked together to make that happen 12 months earlier - November 1 2019.
The proposed merger would allow for significantly more combined resources to deliver Rugby League programs and competitions across the whole State, with existing NSWRL and CRL staff assured their employment is secure.
It will also unlock a significant investment in the game from the National Rugby League (NRL) through many new program initiatives.
NSWRL chairman Dr George Peponis OAM said changes in governance would be reflected from November 1 2019 once the revised constitution for NSWRL is adopted at the meeting next month.
"This is the most significant governance development in the game in this state for 80 years," Dr Peponis said.
CRL chairman John Anderson welcomed the change and said: "We are fully supportive of a single entity governing the game in NSW and look forward to working together in a more streamlined manner that will benefit everyone in the game from the city to the country."
NSWRL chief executive Dave Trodden said initially there won't be much change to the day-to-day running of country football when the merger is finalised.
Mr Trodden spoke to the Times at the Group Three grand final at Wauchope in August.
"All the groups such as Group Three will still be individually controlled,'' he explained.
"What will change is that there will be significantly increased resources available to people on the ground in places like Group Three.
"We will have a streamlined administration with all the development officers under the one banner.''
