Steve Williams departs US Association of Rugby League (USARL)
USARL executive director Steve Williams has announced his departure from the governing body.
Williams, who has had two stints and three positions working for the game in the United States since 1997, has departed to pursue work in consultancy.
In announced his departure, chairman Peter Ilfield wrote to fellow directors: “Steve has given his time and expertise in an unselfish manner since forming the LLC (Club Competition) in 2011 and the USARL Inc (National Governing Body) in 2014. “I congratulate him, sincerely thank him with gratitude and wish him all the best for the future."
Asked the achievements of which he was most proud, Williams said: “Number one is to see that the Americas calendar is now built out with future funding scheduled. “To see the Americas Championship is every two years and the Americas Nines every other year is very satisfying.
“The website where everyone is reading this story is also an achievement I am proud of. It was over 1,000 hours of just getting it built and designed to support multi-tier comps as well as everything men’s Hawks-related and also able to scale for women’s Hawks, and wheelchair. “It has a strong calendar of events and history and is attractive for sponsors.
“Helping to establish our international program, being selector and qualifying for Rugby League World Cup 2017 back in 2015 held in Jacksonville, Florida. Our international program was not even 12 months old and we were under pressure to meet the expectations of qualifying on the heels on 2013. Canada were red hot favorites along with Jamaica.”
Steve started off with American rugby league in 1997, working with Super League America, the USRL and the AMNRL. He departed in 2003 and returned in 2010 as an independent director of the USARL LLC club competition. In 2014 he was elected as an executive director of the US Association of Rugby League, Inc (USARL).
Illfield has encouraged new directors to come forward. "A sustainable future of the USARL is critical," he wrote. "Not only is the position of Marketing and Communication vacant, this should also come as a prompt for everybody to consider all positions and contribution on the NGB Board of Directors."
"The USARL Inc (NGB) responsibility, clearly outlined in its formation in 2014, was to be the National Governing Body and focus on the very important aspect of an international agenda, regional administration, education and training, while the USARL LLC (Club Comp) was a Board to assist in club development and administration of the national competition."
The game as suffered another departure with Nate Gladdin standing down as the head of the Hawks’ women’s program.
“I’ve decided to focus on growing awareness for the game on the media & podcast side of things,” said the host of the Rugby League In America show. “I’ll continue to assist the players & the growth of rugby league here in the USA because it’s where my passion lies & like so many others I hope to see it succeed. Our potential, if properly developed in the American way, is endless.”