No Bradford Bulls job in pipeline for Nigel Wood following IRL exit

It was announced over the weekend that the former Rugby Football League chief executive will retire from his IRL position at the end of the year.

Wood and his family became the major shareholders of former Super League champions Bradford Bulls in October after taking over the cash-strapped club from Andrew Chalmers.

In a statement at the time, he said ‘my professional duties in the international game means I cannot and will not get involved with the day-to-day running.’

Dewsbury Rams chairman Mark Sawyer also became a shareholder as part of the consortium that took control of Bradford and he is also now the club’s acting chief executive.

Asked if Wood would step up his involvement with the Bulls, Sawyer said: “There’s no plan for it at the moment.

“It’s a few months before he steps down (at IRL) and he’ll be very busy up to then. But, in terms of Bradford, he’s just there on the end of a telephone if we need a bit of advice for anything as he has been so busy. I am a bit surprised (at IRL retirement). What he’s going to do instead of that I’m not sure but I’m sure he’ll have some irons in the fire. The position I’ve got at Bradford is a voluntary one. Any work Nigel does at Bradford will be voluntary as well and he has to consider his future in anything he decides to do.”

Wood – who also leaves his role as a board member for the 2021 Rugby League World Cup – was RFL chief executive for a decade before stepping down in January 2018. He then moved into his current position at the IRL – formerly the Rugby League International Board – where he has served for 18 years and previously held roles such as deputy chair and chair. The international calendar is presently up in the air due to the Covid-19 crisis with uncertainty over England’s three-Test home series against Australia.

Wood is sitting on its Covid-19 Response Committee.

“It has been the privilege of my life to serve the cause of international rugby league over the past 18 years,” said Wood, who oversaw the 2013 Rugby League World Cup in the UK.

“I’m proud of the growth and diversification of international rugby league since 2000 and looking forward to watching the most inclusive World Cup next year when men, women and wheelchair players will compete on an equal basis. International rugby league represents the greatest opportunity rugby league has to move to the next level and I know there are exciting plans ahead.

“I’d like to thank and pay tribute to the many friends and colleagues around the world who have built international rugby league on the back of passion, commitment and relentless energy and they will continue to help it grow and thrive. I wish them every success in the world.”

IRL chair Greg Barclay said: “I, and the rest of the Board, would like to thank Nigel for his service and wish him well in his retirement.”

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