Tony Adams said his role because the Rugby Football League’s president will not present a recommendation to those already working in the game. He will take cognizant on promoting the sport rather than attempting to have a palms-on function like Clive Woodward did when he took up a function in some other game.
The fifty-two-yr-vintage former Arsenal and England defender took over on Wednesday as Andy Burnham’s successor, having been approached to take up the one-year function as president. Adams has solid a strong relationship with rugby league in latest years thanks to the sport’s hyperlinks with the Sporting Chance hospital but stated he would not overstep the mark.

Woodward, the previous England rugby union teacher, had an unwell-fated thirteen-month spell as Southampton’s technical director in 2005-06, and Adams stated: “I don’t want to get concerned in the technical aspect of the game. I’m no longer sitting right here like Woodward did while he went in at Southampton: I don’t declare to be an expert with regards to this game; it’s simply no longer what I’m about.

I’m right here for the sport’s profile, and if I can shed some extra mild on this excellent sport, then I’m genuinely here to try this. I’m not a technical director or whatever like that – I’m the president, and that is all about cementing and selling relationships. Adams will call on the expertise of his former England teammate and keen league fan Stuart Pearce to ensure his tenure as president is as a hit as viable.

Stuart loves the sport,” Adams stated. “I ran into him an ultimate week at a game. He loves it to bits, and I’m going to apply him in my team to unfold the phrase that it’s a remarkable sport. I love the honest, open method and the physical facet of the game. I’ve been bored out of my brains at a few current football games with all of the sideways passing. I’m now not attempting to mention I hate soccer, and I’m now all about rugby league. However, it’s miles an awesome sport.

Adams admitted that whilst he isn’t acquainted with the finer info, and he has been impressed via the paintings performed in nearby communities and the merchandising of player welfare. They’ve got players going into prisons and mentoring young offenders; that is exceptional stuff. You don’t see top worldwide footballers doing that. Anything I can do to assist, I will. Sporting Chance wouldn’t just get into bed with absolutely everyone, and I gained’t take this position lightly.

The governing frame has confirmed its miles to finalize Ottawa’s entry into the professional shape subsequent 12 months. Speculation is mounting that the backers in the back of the bid – led using the Toronto Wolfpack founder, Eric Perez – had been unable to convince the RFL they will be geared up to go into in 2020. “We’re not ready to verify it,” Simon Johnson, the RFL’s chairman, stated. “Discussions are properly superior. However, there’s a board meeting in August whilst it’s once more at the agenda.”