Colin Love AM, (born 25 January 1945[1] in Australia) is the chairman of the Rugby League International Federation, New South Wales Rugby League (NSWRL) and has been the chairman of the Australian Rugby League (ARL) since 1999. He is the seventh chairman of the ARL, and the eleventh of the NSWRL.
Mr Love, who acquired his law degree at Sydney University after matriculating from Sydney Boys High School, graduating in 1961.[2] He began his association with rugby league when he was involved with contract negotiations for players in the late 1970s. He was retained as the league's solicitor soon afterwards; Love was an active participant as a soliciter for the ARL and Kerry Packer during the Super League war. Love was elected chairman of the ARL in 1999.[3]
On Saturday, 27 January 2007, Colin Love received an Order of Australia medal for his contribution to both the sport of rugby league football and to sports law.[4]
Love was succeeded as RLIF chairman in June 2011 by Scott Carter.
2008 World Cup controversy
Colin Love came under attack in August 2007 from the Daily Telegraph with a piece written by Josh Massoud that claimed that he acted unscrupulously in regard to the position for organising the Rugby League World Cup as well as acting with undue regard in relation to how Love executed his duties in football. Massoud claimed, "If Love's dual role as ARL chairman and solicitor – or RLIF director and World Cup organiser – doesn't sound conflict-of-interest alarm bells, his SCG Trusteeship should," in reference to Love's allocation of at least one World Cup game to the Sydney Football Stadium instead of Telstra Stadium.[5] Daily Telegraph reporter Dean Ritchie later wrote, "Colin Love is today left with no option but to resign all official involvement with the 2008 World Cup." Ritchie summarised his view: "The public no longer tolerates the hollow cries of 'fair business', for instance, when a city councillor awards a rich contract to a company he owns shares in, and nor should it. Rugby league should be no different".[6]
References
- ^ "ARL chairman pays self $2 million". Fox Sports Australia. 28 July 2007. Retrieved 28 July 2007.
- ^ http://www.sydneyboyshigh.com/speeches/foundation-day-assembly-2011-principal
- ^ Duthie, Rodney (23 December 2007). "Bati set for six-nation series". Fiji Times. Fiji Times Limited. Archived from the original on 3 January 2008. Retrieved 27 December 2009.
- ^ "League administrators honoured on Australia Day". 29 January 2007. Archived from the original on 19 August 2007. Retrieved 28 July 2007.
- ^ "Colin Love's $2 million free kick". The Daily Telegraph. 28 July 2007.
- ^ "In fairness to game, Love must quit Cup". The Daily Telegraph. 28 July 2007.