RL Commercial has appointed leading global professional services provider Deloitte as strategic advisors, working specifically with their Sports Business Group, as the sport looks to advance its re-capitalisation project.
Deloitte will collaborate with RL Commercial to identify, develop, and lead strategic investment opportunities, as part of an incentive to secure a sustainable and prosperous future for the game in the UK and France.
Following significant growth within the sport in recent years, including the recent expansion to 14 teams in the Men’s Betfred Super League, a record breaking 2025 season with more than 1.62 million fans attending matches attendance, strong average broadcast viewership (+52%) and digital growth (+68%), the two commercial teams will pick up on existing conversations already taking place in the market, as well as explore any additional avenues to support the sports growth ambitions and potential.
Deloitte's Sports Business Group is a leading global advisor that provides strategic consulting, financial advisory, and data-driven insights to help an array of sports organisations—including clubs, leagues, and governing bodies—enhance value, transform operations, and achieve sustainable growth, recently acting as a lead advisor to the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) on securing investment into the eight teams playing in The Hundred, the ECB’s short-format competition, and Sail GP on its recent two-team expansion for the 2026 global racing championship.
With over 30 years’ experience in the sports industry, the Deloitte Sports Business Group has executed over 250 of the most ambitious sports transactions, working across more than 40 global markets and 40 different sports.
Rhodri Jones, RL Commercial Managing Director, said: “Rugby League is strongly positioned for growth and investment, and by appointing trusted experts at Deloitte, we believe this is the right moment to secure the most advantageous outcome for the sport.
“We have been in active discussions with a number of prospective partners in recent months, and bringing Deloitte on board at this stage to provide guidance and explore opportunities in greater detail represents a prudent and professional next step.”
Interested parties can find out more by emailing Andrew Haywood or Theo Ajadi (ahaywood@deloitte.co.uk & theoajadi@deloitte.co.uk)
