Under the arrangement, National Lottery branding will be prominently featured in the premier men’s and women’s rugby league fixtures in England. This partnership also provides National Lottery players with the opportunity to win exclusive rugby league prizes, including tickets and VIP experiences.
The National Lottery will serve as the title partner for the highly anticipated England Women Rugby League Mid-Season International with Wales on 25 June. Nigel Railton, the chief executive of National Lottery operator Camelot, expressed his pride in supporting sports and the positive impact this partnership will have after a challenging year for the Rugby League.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the entire Women’s Rugby League season in 2020 was canceled, resulting in a significant gap in play for women and girls since autumn 2019. RFL chief executive Ralph Rimmer acknowledged the difficulties faced by players, coaches, volunteers, and clubs, but expressed optimism in bouncing back with the support of the National Lottery and the new commercial partnership.
Sports Minister Nigel Huddleston welcomed the partnership, emphasizing its positive impact on Women’s and Girls’ Rugby League. The funding from the National Lottery provides certainty for the sport as it aims to return crowds to matches as soon as possible during the 2021 professional season.
The National Lottery has been supporting various organizations throughout the pandemic, including Wheelchair Tennis, Rugby Union Sevens, and non-league football across the four British nations. Additionally, over £150m of National Lottery funding has been distributed to grassroots sports organizations across Britain to aid in their recovery efforts.
In a separate announcement, Camelot, the operator of the National Lottery, revealed a new partnership with Team GB, Great Britain’s Olympic team, and the ParalympicsGB squad.
