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‘A Breakthrough Moment – RFL Chief Rimmer on Cornwall RLFC
April 13, 2022
Rugby Football League chief executive officer Ralph Rimmer says that Cornwall RLFC’s admittance into the sport’s professional ranks could be ‘a breakthrough moment’ for the 13-player code.
Rimmer was amongst the crowd of 1,473 that witnessed the Choughs’ first ever home match in Betfred League 1.
The hosts entertained Midlands Hurricanes with the Birmingham based outfit prevailing 60-14 due in no small part to a dominant first half showing in which they scored 40 unanswered points.
However, Cornwall were much-improved after the turnaround and managed to score three tries of their own through Harry Aaronson, Adam Jones and Launceston’s Sam Snell.
“Hopefully this is a breakthrough moment and that’s why I am here,” Rimmer told cornwallrlfc.co.uk before the match. “There are all sorts of comparisons you can make between Cornwall and rugby league land as it is known.
“And after coming down and speaking to the people that are here, we have seen lots of rugby league shirts on the terraces which is both exhilarating and exciting.
“We have known for a long time that there are a lot of rugby players in Cornwall and the South West in general. Hopefully this gives them a port to go to. There is plenty of Cornish talent within the Cornwall squad and it is great that they have been given this opportunity.”
Cornwall RLFC’s formation, Toulouse’s promotion to Super League and promising signs in Cumbria and Newcastle to name a few see rugby league in arguably its healthiest position for a number of years.
Coupled with more television exposure than ever, many clubs showing increased attendances and the delayed World Cup later this year, Rimmer was adamant that the greatest game is very much on ‘an upward trajectory’.
He added: “We have had a couple of years in the wilderness and I absolutely believe that to be the case. We have realigned the sport governance wise and we have some more big announcements to come down the track in a couple of months too.
“We also have a World Cup later in the year and Cornwall RLFC joining the league just adds to the feelgood. I absolutely believe that we are on an upward trajectory and acknowledge that this hasn’t been the case in the last two or three years.
“Overall, it is an exciting year for rugby league.”