Nominations open for new USARL Board

Nominations are now open for election to the new United States Association of Rugby League Board after 11 clubs joined Pacific Coast Rugby League as the first institutional members of the reformed organisation.

In one of the final acts of a lengthy and detailed governance reform process initiated by International Rugby League, nine directors will be elected to the new look USARL Board in voting due to be held from January 18-25.

IRL has confirmed the following members:

• Club Full Members: Jacksonville Axemen, Los Angeles Bandidos, Los Angeles Mongrel, San Diego Barracudas, Santa Rosa Dead Pelicans, SW Florida Copperheads, Tampa Mayhem
  
  
• Club Affiliate Members: Glendale Storm, Herriman Roosters, Provo Broncos, Riverton Seagulls
  
  
• League Full Member: Pacific Coast Rugby League Inc.

Each of the 12 club and league members are entitled to nominate one Director in each of the three categories listed below. However, only full members are able to vote.

Nominees will now be submitted to IRL, which will manage the election and be the retuning officer.

The constitution, approved in April 2023, ensures that both east and west USA will have representation on the Board.

The elections are for:

• 7 Directors nominated by the member clubs and league;
  
  
• 1 female Director drawn from the list of individual members (players, administrators and coaches) of the member clubs and league, and;
  
  
• 1 male Director drawn from the list of individual members (players, administrators and coaches) of the member clubs and league.

Following the election of these 9 Directors the new USARL Board will:

• elect an interim Chair from among the 9 Directors
  
  
• recruit up to three independent Directors to join the Board.

Immediately after the recruitment of up to three independent Directors, the 12-strong Board shall elect a Chair from among the Directors.

The election of the full Board will complete a reform process that started in October 2021 and included wide and multiple consultations with the rugby league community in the United States, a review of multiple relevant US sports governance models and was benchmarked by USARL consent at every stage to ensure a fully collaborative process.