Investment into rugby league in the north should be part of the Government’s ‘levelling up’ agenda amid fears over how coronavirus will impact the sport, says Warrington South MP Andy Carter.
In a letter to secretary of state for digital, culture, media and sport Oliver Dowden, Conservative Mr Carter says sports teams which make up the life of towns and cities across the country are not immune to the social and economic impact of Covid-19.
He also highlights key asks as detailed by Rugby League England – including a ‘required’ £19.45 million to ‘meet game-wide loss of revenues net of Government business reliefs over a projected 12-week shutdown of the sport’.
In the letter, Mr Carter said:
“My constituency is home to Warrington Wolves, one of the leading rugby league teams in the country and they, along with many others, are worried about the economic impact that coronavirus will have on their ability to operate.
“Teams like Warrington Wolves do not have the economic security and investment, as say a Premier League football team would have.
“I truly believe that investment into rugby league in the north should be part of the levelling up agenda that I know yourself and colleagues are working hard to deliver on.”
Mr Carter emphasised he welcomed the announcements already made to support business but believes a further package is needed for the sport.
He says clubs and the Rugby Football League rely on ticket sales and reinvest the revenue into sporting and large-scale community activity.
He added: “The money requested is to support clubs, the RFL and SLE across 12 weeks during which they are unable to complete fixtures, which for many is their main source of revenue.
“With this additional support the sport could avoid the very real danger of a wave of instability – and impacts on commercial and broadcast arrangements – a domino effect leaving the sport damaged.
“In my capacity as vice-chair of the APPG for rugby league, I would ask that you work with the Treasury to investigate what support could be available to help keep the sport afloat.”
