Wakefield Council funds rugby league club's return to Featherstone

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 23 Oct, 14:02 · Archive

Wakefield Council has agreed to provide £500,000 to secure the future of professional rugby league in Featherstone after Featherstone Rovers went into administration in December and was denied membership of the Rugby Football League.

The council's cabinet members voted in favour of releasing the funds to support the RFL's plan to purchase the Post Office Road ground and lease it to a new operator. Lukasz Borcz, the council's portfolio holder for leisure and sport, said the model 'protects the assets for future generations and reduces the risk of further loss'.

The funding comes from the council's Rugby League Resilience Fund, established in 2021 to develop grassroots and professional rugby league across the district. The council expects the RFL to match the contribution, with discussions also ongoing regarding further financial support from national funding bodies. It is hoped a successor 'phoenix club' could be established at the stadium and return to competition from 2027.

Borcz added that the benefits would include 'safeguarding a major community and sporting asset, protecting opportunities for participation and youth development'.

How it is being reported

• Council agrees £500k boost for rugby league clubThe financial boost comes after Featherstone Rovers went into administration in December.BBC Leeds And West Yorkshire · 23 Oct, 13:39
• Wakefield Council agrees £500k funding to bring rugby league club back to townThe club went into administration in DecemberYorkshire Evening Post · 23 Oct, 04:30

In this story: Wakefield Council · Featherstone Rovers · Featherstone · Rugby Football League · Lukasz Borcz

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