London Broncos announce new era for Rugby League in London
Jake Watson • 21 May 2025
London Broncos announce new era for Rugby League in London
Gary Hetherington has today presented a five-year plan to realise a new vision for Rugby League in London and the South-East of England.
Hetherington today hosted a media event at Australia House on The Strand in London, where he outlined plans to develop a new ownership group, launch a new brand for the 2026 season, and committed to reinstating the London Player Academy. He also said the club will remain based at AFC Wimbledon and confirmed a new partnership with international sports advisory firm Freshwater Strategy to revitalise the club.
“Rugby League is at a significant moment both nationally and globally, and London needs to be a part of that,” explained Hetherington whose career in Rugby League administration has spanned four decades beginning with the foundation of the Sheffield Eagles club and then since 1996 the revitalisation of the Leeds Rhinos.
“Stephen Smith, Australia’s High-Commissioner to the United Kingdom, and his team recognise the importance of Rugby League in terms of our links to Australia and the wider South Pacific – and in a year when we will see the return of the Rugby League Ashes for the first time since 2003, with the First Test at Wembley on October 25, this is the perfect time to consider how best to maximise that potential.
“The sport may have been born in the North, but its links to London stretch back more than a century – even before the decision to take the Challenge Cup Final to Wembley in 1929.
“This year, Wembley will stage two major Rugby League occasions – Betfred Challenge Cup Finals Day on June 7, followed by the first Ashes Test in 22 years.
“That’s a timely reminder of the importance of the health of the sport in London and the South as we continue to stage our major occasions in front of a national audience.
“One of the purposes of holding the launch event was to illustrate that London has continued to deliver for Rugby League, even with the Broncos club out of the Super League.
“There are products of the London Academy scattered around other clubs, from Mike McMeeken at Wakefield Trinity to Kai Pearce-Paul at the Newcastle Knights in Australia.
“London Broncos Women reached the Quarter Finals of the Betfred Women’s Challenge Cup this season, and London Roosters will play in the Final of the Betfred Wheelchair Challenge Cup for the first time next month after beating Leeds Rhinos in Saturday’s Semi Final.
“The quality of the community teams in the Southern Conference League should not be underestimated, as Wests Warriors showed in their run to the Third Round of the Betfred Challenge Cup and a highly creditable performance against Leeds Rhinos at Headingley.
“There is so much to work with – and the Rugby League environment is receptive, with the NRL thriving in the southern hemisphere, and IMG’s strategic plan for reimagining Rugby League in the UK and Europe gathering momentum.”
The London Broncos and international sports advisory firm Freshwater Strategy are also pleased to announce a partnership to revitalise the iconic London Rugby League club. This partnership will leverage London’s dynamic sports market to build a world-class franchise under new ownership and propel the Broncos back to the Super League.
Freshwater has a proven track record of driving team transformations through market-leading sports advisory services, delivering success across a wide range of sporting codes.
“Freshwater Strategy is pleased to be leveraging our global offices in Sydney and London, and strong pedigree in the Australian game to turn London’s flagship rugby league team into a beacon of growth in the UK”, said Freshwater Director Jonathon Flegg.
“Freshwater's partnership with London Rugby is focused on growing sponsors and investment underpinned by NRL partnerships and an exciting and contemporary club rebrand. Our aspiration is to help catapult the club back into the Super League, with the strongest brand, membership, merchandise, venue, sponsorships, governance and on-field competitiveness.”
London Broncos Director of Rugby and Performance Mike Eccles has spoken on today’s announcement and his vision for continuing to discover and nurture talent in the south of the country.
“There is an obvious requirement to strengthen the team for 2025 which is currently active and ongoing. However it is our ambition to ensure we build not only a competitive squad for the present, but also a squad that is built largely on homegrown talent for sustained and lasting success for the future.
“We remain committed to providing professional Rugby League opportunities for young players from London and the South of England. To do so we plan to work closely with the RFL to resurrect professional academy structures and begin to rebuild a system that taps into the games largest and most diverse talent pool. We recognise the incredible work that goes on at junior league level in the south and within the Southern Conference League. We hope to work closer than ever before with all clubs in the South in an attempt to support player and coach development.
“Recent history has shown that both London Broncos and the wider game benefit from strong junior development structures in the South. It is our commitment to ensure these structures are resurrected and the quality work from the past is built on to create an unrivalled talent pathway. The journey to producing the next Kai Pearce-Paul, Mike McMeeken or Bill Leyland begins now.”
Ends.
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Broncos Launch “Fan Hub” Project! Big plans to relaunch London Broncos for the 2026 Rugby League season are already underway and the first project is to launch and create new supporter “hubs” around London and the South of England. The main objectives of this initiative is for the Broncos to engage more closely with its fans, bring all fans, players, volunteers, clubs and teams closer together, raise interest, profile and momentum and attract newcomers from all sectors of society. Gary Hetherington said; “We all want the game to be “less of a secret” to those in this part of the country and if we don’t do it, it won’t get done! “Rugby League has a proud record for its connectivity and support for its communities, the players and staff are approachable and committed and we the fans can do more.” Can you help? Could you help to create a “hub” in your village, school, club, town, community? It could be at a pub, club or wherever you think appropriate? Are you interested in joining a steering group to oversee the project and its development? If the answer to either or both of these questions is yes, just email Jake Watson at jake.watson@londonbroncosrl.com to register your interest and we’ll be back in touch soon with more information. #WeAreLondon
GAMEWEEK: London Broncos vs Oldham RLFC It is the penultimate home league game of the season on Sunday as London Broncos welcome Sean Long's Oldham RLFC to The Cherry Red Records Stadium. The Roughyeds are flying high in the league and were made to work for their latest win on Sunday as they eded past Batley Bulldogs at The Fox's Biscuits Stadium. For the Broncos they look to return to winning ways after defeats to fellow high-flyers Toulouse and York. Speaking after the defeat to York, Mike Eccles says he is confident there will be a return to the side of some of the players who were injured. Keep scrolling to get your tickets for Sunday's game with prices starting at JUST £5.
MATCH HIGHLIGHTS: York Knights vs London Broncos You can now watch back extended highlights of the Broncos trip to the Championship leaders York Knights. Keep scrolling to get your tickets for the final two home league games - starting with the visit of Oldham RLFC on Sunday, 24th.
POST-MATCH: Mike Eccles reacts to York defeat. Get the thoughts of London Broncos Director of Rugby and Performance Mike Eccles after the defeat to York Knight. It was a Broncos side decimated by injuries but put up a brave fight before eventually losing 42-16 at the LNER Community Stadium. Watch the full post-match interview below. #WeAreLondon
TEAM NEWS: York Knights vs London Broncos Here is your starting line-up for this afternoon's Championship fixture at York Knights. Rugless & Qareqare come in to make full debuts as Jack Smith continues at left centre. Hellec also returns to the 13 starting at full-back in place of the injured Alex Walker. #WeAreLondon
MATCH PREVIEW: London Broncos vs York Knights It's an away trip to the league leaders this week for London Broncos as they go up north to take on York Knights at the LNR. Mark Applegarth's side lead the Championship by two points over this weekend's opponents Toulouse and also Bradford. The leaders have won 15 games on the bounce so provide a huge task for Mike Eccles side who are looking to get back to winning ways after a narrow defeat to Toulouse at the weekend. SQUAD INFO Mike Eccles has named his squad for Sunday's trip to the Championship leaders York Knights. With a number of players currently managing injuries it is a squad of 18 players that has been named. Walker, Bienek picked up injuries in the last game with Toulouse whilst Tindall is unavailable due HIA protocols. Webster-Mansfield remains a couple of weeks away from a return although Polselli is back in training this weekend comes too soon for his return. Aaron Small has a bicep injury and remains unavailable. Kobe Rugless is straight into the squad after joining from Hunslet RLFC this week. Jack Smith has been recalled by Leeds Rhinos this week but Marcus Qareqare comes into the squad in his place.
MATCH PREVIEW: Mike Eccles looks ahead to York trip London Broncos head coach Mike Eccles says his team must "push through" the next couple of weeks as players make their way back from injuries. Eccles has only been able to name a 18 man squad for the trip to the league leaders York on Sunday and says his team are "one to two weeks away from being really strong again." Watch the full interview with Mike below. #WeAreLondon
SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT: YORK KNIGHTS VS LONDON BRONCOS Mike Eccles has named his squad for Sunday's trip to the Championship leaders York Knights. With a number of players currently managing injuries it is a squad of 18 players that has been named. Walker, Bienek picked up injuries in the last game with Toulouse whilst Tindall is unavailable due HIA protocols. Webster-Mansfield remains a couple of weeks away from a return although Polselli is back in training this weekend comes too soon for his return. Aaron Small has a bicep injury and remains unavailable. Kobe Rugless is straight into the squad after joining from Hunslet RLFC this week. Jack Smith has been recalled by Leeds Rhinos this week but Marcus Qareqare comes into the squad in his place. #WeAreLondon
QAREQARE JOINS ON DUAL-REGISTRATION London Broncos can confirm Leeds Rhinos youngster Marcus Qareqare has joined the club on dual-registration and is in the squad for the weekend's trip to York Knights. The England youth international is an outside back with pace to burn and will nice get his first taste of senior action with London Broncos. Marcus is highly regarded at Leeds Rhinos and is also the younger brother of Castleford winger Jason Qareqare. Jack Smith has been recalled by Leeds Rhinos this week. #WeAreLondon
