NRL stay strong on Soccer World Cup bid

Friday 11th December 2009

The NRL say they support Australia's bid to secure the soccer World Cup in either 2018 or 2022 but add they will not allow the event to damage Rugby League.

Following reports that logistical and stadium availability issues could mean the NRL season may have to move to accommodate the World Cup, NRL CEO David Gallop met with his round-ball counterpart in Sydney.

In a statement following the meeting, the NRL "reiterated its position that it does not wish to be an obstacle to Australia's chances of securing international sporting events and is prepared, as it has been in the past, to cooperate with rival sports where possible".

Also in the statement David Gallop added, "We are happy to try and work together but the price of that cooperation cannot be such that it puts the future of our clubs at risk.

"We have to be able to continue to operate effectively for our own clubs' sake and for the sake of the millions of fans in this country who follow them.

"There is only so much disruption our clubs can endure and still remain viable in the years that follow.

"I think the Chief Executive of the FFA, Ben Buckley, accepts that and we have agreed to continue to keep working on the issues.

"Ben has given us his personal assurance that we will be given complete transparency over any issue in the bid document which may affect us.

"It is going to be a more lengthy process than most realise with a number of the international requirements not due to be finalised until May.

"I do think people need to step back from the view that any attempt we make to ensure that we protect our game is somehow portrayed as an attack on the World Cup bid."