NRL cancels season launch, establishes relief fund for flood-affected grassroots clubs in NSW, Queensland

The NRL will help set up a $500,000 relief fund to assist grassroots rugby league clubs affected by the flooding in NSW and Queensland.

The league will use funds it had allocated to its official season launch, which was to be held on Thursday before it was cancelled.

The 16 NRL clubs, the New South Wales Rugby League, Queensland Rugby League and at least one of its commercial partners will also contribute to the fund.

«The scenes across south-east Queensland and northern NSW have been devastating and there could be worse to come with significant rain still to hit Sydney and surrounding areas,» NRL chief executive Andrew Abdo said in a statement.

«From a rugby league perspective, many of our grassroots clubs have lost equipment and suffered damage in the flooding.

»We believe the funds allocated for the season launch could be better spent assisting those clubs get back on the field."

Abdo said the NRL had a responsibility to support grassroots clubs hit by the floods.

«Rugby league clubs are part of the social fabric of our communities,» he said.

«They bring people together, and we want to work together to assist our clubs in returning to the field as soon as possible.»

«What I'm most proud of is how our game has banded together in the most challenging of circumstances over the last two years and we are doing that again today.»