I’ve been quite quiet over the past few days, so in order to catch up on some topics I may have missed, I’m bringing back a format I used in the off-season, a round-up of all the news I haven’t yet covered on its own merits, including executive moves, transfer business, and more upheaval at the RFL. Enjoy!

Gary Hetherington To Leave Leeds Rhinos

Long time Leeds Rhinos Chief Executive Gary Hetherington will leave the club at the end of the season, the club announced on Thursday. Hetherington, who has been a member of the Leeds board since 1996, has seen the club win eight Super League titles, four Challenge Cups, and three World Club Challenges during his stewardship. As well as this, the club saw success with the women’s team, including a Challenge Cup, and the redevelopment of Headingley during his 29 years at the club.

Hetherington will continue in his role for the remainder of the 2025 season, as well as spending time assisting the London Broncos find fresh investment, in order to develop the game in the capital. Rhinos legend Jamie Jones-Buchanan MBE will take over as chief executive from next season, and will work closely with Hetherington to ensure a smooth handover.

On his departure, Gary Hetherington said in the club statement: “I’ve had a good innings and it’s been an amazing journey. At the outset, we had four key objectives, to give the city a team to be proud of, to convert the loss-making business into a sustainable one, to re-develop the stadium facilities and to connect with our community and make a positive difference.”

“Leeds RL and Headingley presented a big challenge in 1996 and a very different one to what I took on with the creation of Sheffield Eagles in 1984. And I will leave knowing both the Rhinos and our Foundation are in good shape. They are full of talented and hardworking people who care about the club and the game, and I will miss them all, but I will continue to serve the Rhinos Players’ Association Committee and support the Leeds Rhinos Foundation as it’s lifetime President.”

“I look back with pride on the rebrand to Leeds Rhinos, the birth of the Foundation, the stadium re-development, our training complex at Kirkstall and the successful Rhinos teams, players and staff, and most of all, on building the club’s reputation to always serving the game in the best possible way.”

“I’m confident this season will be a successful one for all our fans and sponsors and I’ll do all I can to ensure a smooth handover between now and the end of the season.”

Marc Sneyd Leaves Beleaguered Salford To Join Warrington

The crisis at Salford seems to have no end in sight, and the struggling Lancashire outfit will now have to play the rest of the season without their star playmaker Marc Sneyd, after it was announced on Thursday that he had left the club with immediate effect to join the Warrington Wolves.

Sneyd enjoyed two spells with the Red Devils, having come through their youth ranks in 2010. His career also saw him enjoy success at Castleford and Hull FC, where he won back-to-back Lance Todd Trophies and Challenge Cups in 2016 and 2017. He leaves Salford as their all-time Super League points scorer with a tally of 844 points. He will link up with fellow England international George Williams, in a partnership that is sure to have many fans’ tongues wagging.

In a statement on the club website, Sneyd had this to say: “It’s with a heavy heart that I’ve had to make the tough decision to leave Salford in pursuit of a new opportunity. I want to go on record in thanking everyone who has made returning here so memorable and wish the Club nothing but the best in the future.”

“To the lads – past and present – Paul Rowley and his coaching team, and the backroom staff, it has been a pleasure to play and work alongside you every day – I hope everything works out for everybody.”

“A final big thank you to the fans. Your constant support has meant the world and it’s always appreciated whenever I took the field.”

RFL Board Loses Two More Members

Following on from the departures of Sandy Lindsay MBE, and chair Simon Johnson in recent weeks, the RFL board is soon to get even smaller, with two more members having tendered their resignation in the wake of Nigel Woods’ return to the fold.

Dr Cherrie Daley and Julia Newton are the two members departing the board, with their last day at the governing body set to be Friday, March 21st. Cherrie joined the Board as an Independent Non-Executive Director in November 2022, is Chair of the RFL’s Coaching & Performance sub-committee, and Board lead for UK Anti-Doping, whilst Julia Newton joined the Board as a Non-Executive Director in July 2024 and is chair of the RFL’s Audit and Risk Committee.

On their resignations, Cherrie and Julia said: “Whilst we are sad to leave the RFL Board and the sport, given recent and current events, we feel there is no other option. As Directors, with the responsibilities carried, we have set out why recent moves have been contrary to proper governance and, having outlined potential effects, feel that we must step down.”

“We are, of course, also concerned about questions raised openly this week around historic behaviour and culture. Now, having made sure that these could be addressed sensitively and through the right processes, we feel that we can step aside.”

“In recent days we have spoken to Sport England and met with people in the game who wanted to share concerns. The best interests of the sport and all of its people are paramount and we will continue to work with these principles and support Tony until the day we depart.”

After recent Board resignations, Chief Executive Tony Sutton remains with Ed Mallaburn, IMG Vice President, and Jamie Jones-Buchanan MBE, Chair of the RFL Inclusion Board, the current Board observers. It is to be sincerely hoped that this will be the last bit of upheaval for the governing body as it navigates turbulent times ahead.

Ben Nakubuwai Leaves the Leopards

It was announced by the Leigh Leopards this past week that Fiji international prop Ben Nakubuwai has left the club with immediate effect to return to Australia. Nakubuwai racked up 44 appearances for the Leythers, with two of those appearances coming in the 2022 Championship Grand Final, and 2023 Challenge CUp final wins. He spent the majority of last season out on loan with Featherstone Rovers in the Championship, and his departure frees up a quota spot for Adrian Lam’s side.

In a statement on the club’s website, Leigh Head of Rugby Chris Chester said: “We thank Ben for his services and wish him well in the future. He played a big part in our promotion from the Championship and in the Challenge Cup victory in 2023.”

“As a member of the cup-winning team his name will forever be remembered in Leigh’s folklore.”

Written by Nathan Major-Kershaw (Site editor & Hull KR fan)

Sources: Gary Hetherington statement: https://www.therhinos.co.uk/article/21458/rhinos-announce-hetherington-to-step-down-at-end-of-2025-season, Marc Sneyd Statement: https://www.salfordreddevils.com/club-statement-marc-sneyd/, RFL Board Update: https://www.rugby-league.com/article/63555/rfl-board-update, Ben Nakubuwai statement: https://leighleopards.co.uk/ben-nakubuwai-departs-leopards/