Hornets make waves across the channel

Rochdale Hornets article in French Rugby League Magazine, Trieze

After Rochdale Hornets successful Kingstone Press League One play-off final victory over Toulouse Olympique XIII last season you could be forgiven for thinking that Hornets might not have many friends in French Rugby League, but a recent article in the French Rugby League Magazine, Trieze paints quite a different picture.

The concept of ‘supporter ownership’ is something of a novelty in professional French rugby league, but with the victory for Hornets and the subsequent higher profile for the club, some in the game across the channel wondered what the concept was all about.

Hornets supporter Jim Stringer, who was the former chairman of the Hornets supporters group the ‘Nest Egg’, which became the basis of the Supporter's Trust which saved the club in 2009, was contacted by Fabien Paludetto of Trieze Magazine.

Fabian asked Jim how the supporter owned club came about and how it has evolved and developed, and also asked questions around the governance and structure of the club.

Fabian also contacted Mark Wynn, the current Hornets chairman, to ask how the club continues to develop, the appointment of new CEO, Adam Bates and how the club keeps its community ethos.

Looking back to 2009, following Hornets becoming the first professional supporter owned rugby league club, which others have now followed, two cup final wins with two promotions and a sell-out Rugby League World Cup fixture later, a Rochdale sporting club is now being hailed as an example for other to follow at home but across the channel.

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