Sport Rugby league Abbreviation ARLC | Jurisdiction National Affiliation date 1998 | |
Founded 1924 (as ARL Board of Control) Affiliation Rugby League International Federation | ||
The Australian Rugby League Commission is the official governing body of rugby league football within Australia. It was founded, as the Australian Rugby League 'Board of Control', in 1924, jointly by the New South Wales Rugby League and the Queensland Rugby League. Since 1924, all other state and territory Rugby League governing bodies have become affiliated to the League.
Contents
The completely restructured ARL Commission was formally established on 10 February 2012 and took control of all aspects of the game in Australia. From 1998-2012, the National Rugby League Partnership, a power-sharing arrangement between News Corporation and the Australian Rugby League (ARL) ran the National Rugby League competition, as a consequence of the Super League war. Other teams and competitions were run by the Australian Rugby League or state Leagues. Prior to 1998, the code in Australia had been administered largely by individual state leagues on a domestic basis, and the ARL on a national and international basis.
Legally, the ARL Commission is the existing, original ARL corporate entity, but with an entirely new constitution and regulatory framework. This effectively means that the game has been governed by the same overarching body in Australia since 1924.
Scope
The ARL Commission is the highest authority on the game of rugby league football within Australia. All affiliated leagues and clubs within Australia are under the ARLC's jurisdiction.
Constitution
The primary objects of the Company are to:
(a) be the single controlling body and administrator of the Game; (b) foster, develop, extend and provide adequate funding for the Game from the junior to elite levels and generally to act in the best interests of the Game; (c) liaise with and delegate appropriate functions to governing bodies of the Game in the States and Territories of Australia, including the NSWRL and QRL; (d) organise and conduct all State of Origin and Australian Representative Games; (e) organise, conduct and foster the NRL Competition; (g) liaise with the Rugby League International Federation Limited and organisations controlling the game in other countries in the fostering and control of the game of Rugby League throughout the world; (h) promote and encourage either directly or indirectly the physical, cultural and intellectual welfare of young people in the community and, in particular, the Rugby League community; (i) promote and encourage either directly or indirectly sport and recreation, particularly Rugby League football, in the interests of the social welfare of young persons.Organisation Structure
The ARL Commission is the peak governing body of rugby league football in Australia. It is headquartered in Sydney at Rugby League Central, Moore Park, New South Wales.
All 16 National Rugby League clubs and the New South Wales Rugby League and the Queensland Rugby League are members of the Commission. This means that the Commission has 18 shareholder member in total.
Commissioners
The appointment of the original nine commissioners was intensely followed by the media. Placement firm Spencer Stuart shortlisted a list of potential members and the NRL Partnership whittled it down to the current members. Commissioners were required to not have had any link to any rugby league football governing body or organisation for the previous 2 years to ensure their independence.
The inaugural ARL Commissioners were agreed by representatives of the NRL Partnership, the Leagues and the NRL clubs. Future Commissioners are appointed by the Commission itself.
Election
The Commissioners are appointed into different groups and, initially, for differing terms. Each Commissioner must, at a nominated time, resign and seek re-election at an Annual General Meeting.
Commissioners in Group A must stand down before the 2013 Annual General Meeting, where they may re-apply for their position. Group B members must stand down before the 2014 AGM and Group C members must stand down before the 2015 meeting.
Ten members may, with the additional support of both the NSW and Queensland Rugby Leagues, vote to remove a Director.
Fourteen members are required to remove a Commissioner without the support of both the NSW and Queensland Rugby Leagues. Should either of these events occur, the remaining Commissioners would appoint a replacement.
A Director who has been removed from office may not seek re-appointment for a period of three years.
Former commissioners
David Gallop was the initial chief executive officer. He was originally the CEO of the NRL and his contract extension to become inaugural ARLC CEO was a condition placed by News Limited with the ARL.
On 5 June 2012 the ARLC announced his departure from the ARLC CEO position and he will take a position at the FFA in 2013. David Smith was announced as the new ARLC CEO in November 2012, taking charge on 1 February 2013.
Gary Pemberton, a former chairman of Qantas, Billabong and Racing NSW, and one of the seven commissioners appointed to the newly formed ARLC in February 2012, announced in July 2013 that he would retire from his role on 31 October.