League insists it has strong future

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The chairman of the Rugby Football League has insisted that the sport has a strong future despite claims that top clubs are considering switching codes to union.

Leicester Tigers chief executive Peter Wheeler has said several leading league clubs have made inquiries into joining the Zurich Premiership in the near future.

But RFL chairman Sir Rodney Walker said: "We have noted the comments and it has been clear to those of us involved in Rugby League for some time that Rugby Union had admired the success and quality of our game.

"Any interest is therefore not surprising.

Rugby league in England has never been able to get out of Yorkshire and Lancashire

  Leicester chief Peter Wheeler

"However, we are looking forward to the publication of our Strategic Planning report in August which we believe will be the launch pad for a bright future for our game."

He added: "Rugby league has many inherent qualities and virtues which make it a strong vibrant sport enjoyed by many thousands of people throughout the UK at all levels.

"These qualities will ensure that the sport continues to prosper."

And the reports have also been dismissed by the Rugby League Supporters Association, who said: "You can take your club out of rugby league, but you can't take rugby league out of your community."

Wheeler was quoted in the Sydney Morning Herald as saying: "Some of the league clubs are looking down the track and thinking where their future should lie.

"I hope we may see one or two in the union competition by the season after next, the one starting in September next year."

Although Wheeler did not mention any specific clubs, the candidates are likely to be Super League champions St Helens, Wigan, Bradford and Leeds.

'Very brave decision'

But Rhinos chief executive Gary Hetherington denied any knowledge of talks about the clubs joining the Zurich Premiership.

"I'm certainly not aware of any dialogue," he told BBC Radio Five Live.

"It would be a very brave decision by any Super League club and its supporters to simply change codes."

With union becoming more financially lucrative, Wheeler believes there will be a further polarisation between the two codes.

Jason Robinson: Success since switching from league to union

"The basic economics that drive professional sport will force the issue," he added.

"Rugby union in the UK and Europe is growing strongly. It's making strong financial progress and league is finding it difficult. That's the thing that will resolve it.

"The timing needs to be right. I think at the present time they are looking very seriously at the possibility that union may be the future for them and assessing all the implications.

"There are some big obstacles and they've got to bring their supporters with them.

'Starring role'

"Rugby league in England has never been able to get out of Yorkshire and Lancashire. So that's what the league guys are seeing."

Wheeler outlined Jason Robinson, who excelled on the Lions tour to Australia, as an example of an ex-league player now revelling in the union limelight.

"They are seeing the sort of occasion we saw in Stadium Australia when Jason Robinson, who was one of their players not so long ago, was playing a starring role and all of it going out to hundreds of millions of viewers worldwide," he said.

"League doesn't have that and there are some people who are looking at where their future lies and they've come to the conclusion it probably lies in union."