A major communication breakdown between the Rugby Football League (RFL) and its member clubs is fuelling the crisis over the Super League’s expansion. A perceived lack of transparency and a failure to share key information has led to a collapse in trust, prompting a late-stage rebellion against the 14-team plan.
The breakdown is evident in the clubs’ complaints about a lack of documentation. They allege that the RFL failed to communicate its financial strategy for the expansion before the crucial vote in July. This one-way flow of information, where the RFL presented a rationale but did not provide papers for scrutiny, is a classic sign of poor stakeholder communication.
The problem has been compounded since the vote. The failure to distribute the official minutes of the meeting is a significant communication failure that has only deepened suspicion. By not sharing this basic record of proceedings, the RFL has created an information vacuum that is now being filled with doubt and mistrust.
This communication breakdown has had severe consequences. It has allowed financial fears to grow unchecked, as the RFL has not provided the data to counter them. It has also made the RFL’s process appear secretive and rushed, further alienating the very clubs it needs to bring along with its vision.
The RFL’s public statements, which refer to an “overwhelming” vote, suggest a belief that the communication was adequate. However, the current turmoil proves otherwise. The league’s leadership is now facing the consequences of a poor communication strategy and must urgently reopen the lines of dialogue if it hopes to save its expansion plan from total collapse.