BY JOHN DAVIDSON
A new fan lobby group has been set up in the UK to provide rugby league supporters with a voice.
‘Rugby League United Supporters Association’ was launched today to help unite fans and aim to give them a say in the running of the sport.
It is the brainchild of St Helens fan Bryn Cowin and Leeds supporter Lawrie Lee, and comes at a time of immense upheaval in the British game.
“We want a voice for the fans, we want to unite the sport, we want change but we want it done properly and not jobs for the boys,” Cowin told rugbyleaguehub.com Long Reads.
“A voice for the sport that has lost its voice. We are aiming to have a voice for better fan engagement, protecting fan rights, good governance through all aspects of the game, diversity, and all types of supporter empowerment.
“We are an inclusive, independent organisation for supporters, to drive positive change in Rugby League through supporter engagement at every level of the game.
“We want a voice, we want to unite the game, we want our voice heard. We are initially gathering support off all fans and we aim to take this to those in power as we believe fans deserve a voice at the table.”
Cowin confirmed the new group will be writing to clubs, with plans for a formal meeting in the near future. A website for the group is to be launched this week.
“We are in the planning process of writing to all clubs,” he said.
“We will be holding a meeting as soon as possible, no date yet. Petitions and protests are being organised as we speak, again no firm dates but things will be announced in the next week or so.
“[In terms of support] in the hundreds so far, but we are only 12 hrs old. This is for every fan of every club. We want to unite everyone.”
