Rugby League Going Global

Rugby league bosses hope to expand the sport by making games between the leading English and Australian clubs a regular part of the fixture list.

Currently the Australian champions meet their Super League counterparts annually in the World Club Challenge.

"There's room for more of our leading clubs to take the field against their leading clubs," said Rugby Football League chief executive Nigel Wood.

"We've got four, five, six clubs that are the match of the sides in the NRL."

“We have to go 12,000 miles, which complicates the options, but fundamentally there is room for growth in the international club matches”Nigel Wood

Leeds beat Manly 26-12 at Headingley on Friday to become the first Super League team since 2008 to win the World Club Challenge.

The match has taken place in England once a year for the last 13 seasons, but Wood revealed that could change in the not too distant future.

"There has been lots of talk and lots of suggestion about the Middle East or the Far East or playing alternate years in Sydney or the rest of Australia," he told BBC Radio 5 live sports extra.

"The fundamental issue for us is that we believe that international club football has got growth in it. There is room for more evenings such as this.

"The players and the supporters deserve an opportunity to see those clubs take the field of combat against each other.

"I'm pretty sure over the next couple of years something will evolve to the satisfaction of both our clubs and the NRL's."

Wood admitted the distance between England and Australia could make the the logistics problematic.

But he believes it is inevitable that the idea will come to fruition.

"It's obviously more difficult in rugby league than it would be in soccer or rugby union where you can play international club football in Europe," Wood continued.

"We have to go 12,000 miles, which complicates the options, but fundamentally there is room for growth in the international club matches.

"You just have to sit down with the Australians and work out what the right formula is.

"We're pretty sure that they will look at this as an opportunity to expand what is a great part of the rugby league calendar."

Stobart Sponsors Super League

Super League will be sponsored by nationwide logistics company Stobart in 2012, the Rugby Football League has announced.

Stobart, who are the principal shirt sponsors of Super League newcomers Widnes and have naming rights to their Halton Stadium, are taking over from Engage Mutual Assurance, who called a halt to their seven-year sponsorship of the game's elite competition at the end of last season.

A statement from the governing body said: "The RFL confirms that Stobart Group has today agreed heads of terms to secure title naming rights to Rugby League's Super League."

The RFL has not divulged the length of the contract but say details of the new partnership will be unveiled at a news conference next Wednesday. The new Super League season starts on Friday, Feb 3, when Widnes host Wakefield and Leeds launch the defence of their title against Hull KR.

Widnes have made former Wigan and Hull full-back Cameron Phelps their 15th signing ahead of their return to Super League.

The 26-year-old Australian, who made 19 appearances for Hull last season, has signed a two-year contract with the Vikings subject to him receiving the necessary visa.

"I have been keeping myself in good shape by training with Canberra Raiders back home and I'm really looking forward to the fresh new challenge in front of me," said the former Canterbury Bulldogs player, who made 44 appearances for Wigan from 2008-10.

"It's an exciting time to be involved at the Vikings and I'm looking forward to helping the team in their push towards the finals.

Widnes coach Denis Betts added: "To unearth a player of Cameron's calibre, literally weeks before the start of a new season is a massive bonus and having him on board adds even more competition for places and greater strength in depth to our squad."

Auckland's Eden Park has been chosen to host the ANZAC Test between New Zealand and Australia on Friday, April 20.