Super League International Board
| Super League International Board | |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1995 |
| Ceased | 1998 |
| Replaced by | Rugby League International Federation |
| Responsibility | Super League worldwide |
| Key people | Maurice Lindsay(Chair) |
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As of 30 November 2009
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The Super League International Board was the international governing body for Super League-aligned rugby league football nations between 1995 and 1998.
The Board was formed to administer Super League globally during the Super League war, a corporate dispute fought in and out of court during the mid-1990s by the Rupert Murdoch and News Corporation-backed Super League (Australia) and the Kerry Packer and Optus Vision-backed Australian Rugby League organisations over broadcasting rights for, and ultimately control of the top-level professional rugby league football competition in Australasia.
In December 1995, the Board was formed in Sydney, Australia. Maurice Lindsay, the chief executive of the British Rugby Football League was elected the Board's first chairperson. Lindsay was also the British delegate.John Ribot, the chief executive of Super League (Australia) and a key figure in the Super League project, became Deputy Chairman.
In response to his election, Lindsay shared the thoughts he and Ribot had on the future of the sport under Super League:
The Super League International Board's responsibilities included controlling the laws of the game.
Several new rules had been trialled in Britain and the Board, during its inaugural meeting, decided they should be introduced to other Super League-aligned nations worldwide. The four rule changes related to the play-the-ball, kick-off and scrums.
In 1996, a ruling in the high court meant that Super League would be able to run a domestic competition in Australia the next year. The ruling meant that the Super League International Board was able operate several international competitions, including the 1997 World Club Championship which consisted of 12 European and 10 Australasian sides. The European clubs struggled in the competition and did not perform well financially.
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