£500k could be spent on bringing professional rugby league back to Featherstone
It follows the collapse of Featherstone Rovers, which entered administration in 2025
Last updated 13th Oct 2026
Wakefield Council looks set to invest £500,000 to ensure professional rugby league returns to Featherstone.
The move follows the collapse of Featherstone Rovers, which entered administration in 2025 due to “financial pressures and instability.”
In January this year, the Rugby Football League (RFL) confirmed that Rovers had not been granted membership of the organisation or entry into the 2026 Championship.
Senior councillors are expected to approve proposals to release funds to support the RFL’s plan to purchase the town’s Post Office Road ground and lease it to a new operator.
It is hoped a successor club could then be created and return to competition from 2027.
Funding for the proposals would come from the council’s Rugby League Resilience Fund, which was established in 2021 to develop grassroots and professional rugby league across the district.
A report said the contribution would be matched by the RFL and discussions were also taking place regarding further financial support from national funding bodies.
Lukasz Borcz, the council’s cabinet member for culture and sport, said: “Rugby league has played an important role in the sporting and community life of the town for generations.
“These proposals are about protecting rugby league heritage in Featherstone and protecting facilities that are valued by local people.
“The use of funding from the Rugby League Resilience Fund will help to establish a sustainable professional future for the game in the town.”
The report to cabinet members said talks had been ongoing about how a ‘phoenix club’ could be established at the stadium.
The document said: “Key to this is what happens to the future of the Featherstone Rovers assets, which are currently in the control of an appointed administrator.
“It is proposed that the RFL acquire the stadium and associated land through the RFL Facilities Trust.
“This would then be leased back to the new licence holders of the club.
“The benefit of the asset being held by the RFL Facilities Trust is that it ensures that, should the club get into difficulty in the future, the assets are secured for future generations to ensure professional rugby league can continue in Featherstone.”
The council said funding would only be released once the RFL had demonstrated that a sustainable operating entity has been identified and had met “all relevant requirements.”
If approved, a grant funding agreement would be created which would include measures to protect the public investment.
As part of the recommendations, cabinet is also being asked to agree to explore the future inclusion of adjacent council-owned sports pitches for possible community use.
The RFL commented: “We are grateful to Wakefield Council for enabling the release of resilience funding to support the future of Rugby League in Featherstone.
“We have worked closely over the last nine months, and we are mindful that we will be in receipt of public money to support this.
“Therefore, more than ever, we must ensure we ourselves believe there is a viable sustainable future.
“We remain hopeful we can find a solution to bring Featherstone Rovers RLFC back to the town.”
Cabinet members will consider the report at a meeting on October 20th