NRL clubs shut down attempts to introduce female, diversity quotas

afr.com:

NRL clubs have rejected a push from the code’s administrators for gender and diversity quotas on their boards and for executives, citing the need to put it to member votes that could become contentious.

The Australian Rugby League Commission proposed a 33 per cent quota for female board directors and a 25 per cent quota at the executive level as a condition of owning an NRL licence, AFR Weekend has confirmed.

But the proposed conditions, intended to promote equality and diversity of thought, were knocked back immediately after being raised – in late October – by a working group of CEOs and directors representing the clubs.

NRL clubs are negotiating the terms of new licence agreements that will allow them to compete from 2025. Nathan Perri

The NRL has since extended the licences for another year to allow for negotiations on a new licence deal to continue, but want a new agreement signed by Christmas. The NRL declined to comment.

Licence agreements are needed by rugby league clubs if they want to compete in the NRL. The 17 club licences were set to expire at the end of October, which would mean the teams could not compete in 2024.

But the expiry has been delayed by another year as the NRL attempts to get the clubs to agree to new conditions and sign long-term licence agreements.

Three sources with direct knowledge of the proposal, who requested anonymity to speak freely, said the NRL proposed that women should make up one-third of club boards and one-quarter of executive teams.

Other diversity quotas were also put forward as potential conditions for renewing a licence to play in the competition.

The conditions – as well as other multicultural and diversity quotas – were knocked back by the working group of clubs that are