Fighting for Survival

A Manifesto for the Future of Rugby League

From amateur clubs to Wembley, courtroom clashes to Ashes, Widnes to Las Vegas, Fighting for Survival looks at how rugby league has lasted for 130 years. How can the game finally thrive? The answer may include committing to bold new ideas, mixing traditions with innovation and even going to Las Vegas.

Rugby league has been in an existential crisis since 1895. Just how has it survived so long, and what must it do now to stay alive and thrive? Fighting for Survival examines rugby league’s remarkable resilience amid such obstacles as government bias, military bans and scant media coverage. Can a sport so entrenched in its working-class roots thrive in the highly commercial sporting world? Franchise systems and play-offs feature in many of the most successful sports leagues in the world. Does rugby league need to embrace and commit to both rather than longing for the old days? Could Australia, its oldest international enemy, prove to be its biggest ally? Using the 2025 season as a backdrop, this compelling book looks at rugby league’s past, present and future to see how it could finally flourish in the UK and escape its perennial survival struggle.

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