Tony Adams, the former Arsenal and England footballer, will become the new president of the Rugby Football League next summer. Adams, who has worked with the RFL in developing rugby league’s player welfare programmes via his Sporting Chance charity, will succeed Andy Burnham and become the 29th person to occupy the role.
“It will be an honour to become the next president of the RFL,” Adams said. “I am passionate about working with everyone in the sport to raise the profile of mental health, wellness and resilience, for players and for everyone in rugby league. I’d like to play my part in championing this brilliant sport on the national stage.”
The RFL has established a strong relationship with Adams and Sporting Chance in recent years. Last year the former Great Britain half-back Leon Pryce said the clinic founded by Adams had saved his life after he retired from playing – with hundreds of rugby league players having also used the service.
“Tony is known and respected throughout sport and beyond, not only for his outstanding playing career with Arsenal, but more recently for his pioneering work with Sporting Chance,” said Brian Barwick, the RFL chairman. “The charity has helped more than 400 rugby league players since the RFL entered into an official partnership with Sporting Chance in 2011, and Tony himself delivered seminars at Wigan and Hull earlier this year. The game has recognised the importance of mental health, for players and everyone else involved, and Tony’s election is another significant step in that regard.”
As part of the changes to the RFL’s team, which were approved at a meeting of the sport’s clubs in Huddersfield on Wednesday, Carl Hall will become Adams’ vice-president. The 49-year-old New Zealander who came to England to play for Doncaster 30 years ago will succeed Pat Crawshaw.
The other change approved by clubs on Wednesday sees Chris Hurst join the board as a non-executive director. Hurst, who has worked for the BBC, the International Cricket Council and the Premier League, replaces Clare Morrow.
“Chris will be a tremendous asset,” Barwick said. “His highly successful career across the world of sport and as a proven leader in the field of modern digital communications will be invaluable in helping us maximise the value and profile of some of the sport’s key properties.”