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Rugby League

RFL issues World Club denial

04/12/2007

The Rugby Football League (RFL) has denied reports it is to put forward plans to organise a new 16-team World Club Challenge competition from 2009.

Media reports had suggested the RFL was hoping to institute a global competition featuring some of the world's best clubs in a knockout format similar to the latter stages of European football's Champions League.

Speculation suggested the tournament would feature the most prestigious clubs under the RFL umbrella along with a number of teams from Australia's NRL competition in a money-spinning format for the game.

However Craig Spence, communications manager of the RFL, has issued a strenuous denial of the reports.

He says the competition is "a non-starter" and his only focus in terms of global rugby league competition is the one-off World Club Challenge game between the respective league champions, Leeds Rhinos and Melbourne Storm on February 29th.

"There is certainly no truth in speculation that the RFL, together with engage Super League clubs, have had a meeting to give such a proposal the thumbs up," Spence said.

"The only World Club Challenge we're currently looking forward to is the mouth-watering clash between Leeds Rhinos and Melbourne Storm.

"The fixture list in this country is already full and we know the NRL's view on disturbing their competition mid-season.

"Player burn-out also needs to be factored in especially when you consider that we have the World Cup next year and a new four nations tournament likely to take place towards the end of 2009."