Two outgoing RFL directors delivered a strong rebuke to the ongoing upheaval in rugby league as they announced their respective resignations.
Dr Cherrie Daley and Julia Newton became the latest board members to step down, following chair Simon Johnson leaving his role after Wednesday’s RFL council meeting which saw former chief executive Nigel Wood succeed him in an interim role.
The pair will continue to work with CEO Tony Sutton until they depart on March 21, and made reference to tackling the concerns expressed in the Women of the RFL and RL Commercial letter which was circulated earlier this week as well.
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“Whilst we are sad to leave the RFL Board and the sport, given recent and current events, we feel there is no other option,” Dr Daley and Newton said in a joint statement.
“As directors, with the responsibilities carried, we have set out why recent moves have been contrary to proper governance and, having outlined potential effects, feel that we must step down.
“We are, of course, also concerned about questions raised openly this week around historic behaviour and culture. Now, having made sure that these could be addressed sensitively and through the right processes, we feel that we can step aside.
“In recent days we have spoken to Sport England and met with people in the game who wanted to share concerns. The best interests of the sport and all of its people are paramount and we will continue to work with these principles and support Tony until the day we depart.”
Dr Newton had been on the board since November 2022, initially joining as an independent non-executive director and more recently serving as chair of the RFL’s coaching and performance sub-committee.
Newton had only been in on the board since July last year and was chair of the RFL’s risk and audit committee.
Their departures leave Sutton, vice-president of the RFL’s strategic partner IMG Ed Mallaburn and Jamie Jones-Buchanan, who chairs the RFL’s inclusion board and was confirmed as Leeds Rhinos’ next CEO on Thursday, as the remaining board observers.
Other directors to have left recently include Sandy Lindsay, Anna Bayley-Chanduvi and Jonathan Murphy, plus RL Commercial chair Frank Slevin.
“I would like to thank Cherrie and Julia for their work with the RFL, their service to the sport and their support for me,” Sutton said.
“They are clear in the reasons for their resignations and it is a mark of their care and diligence that they will work with me over the next week.
“Each has been an exceptional colleague and guide and I am sorry to see them leave. We will explain the next steps for the board, following further discussions, next week.”
