Vale David Collier

International Rugby League is saddened by the passing of the Federation’s former Chief Executive David Collier OBE, aged 70.

David became the IRL’s first fulltime CEO in 2015 and oversaw a period of growth in the number of playing nations during his three years at the helm.

He also worked to ensure rugby league is an officially recognised sport around the world and under David’s tenure the game obtained observer status of the Global Association of International Sports Federations (GAISF), now the Alliance of Independent Recognised Members of Sport (AIMS).

David also spent 10 years as Chief Executive of the England and Wales Cricket Board and worked with the International Cricket Council and the International Hockey Federation.

IRL Secretary-General Danny Kazandjian said: “On behalf of everyone at IRL, I would like to express my deepest sympathies to David Collier’s family and all those who were close to him. I first met him in 2015 and enjoyed working with him over the next three years. He was a real gentleman who always brought a positive outlook to everything he did in rugby league. May he rest in peace”.

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