With no full-time clubs in the city from 2022, the ramifications could be grave for a sport already struggling to make an impact
![‘It’s going to be tough’: rugby league’s London future looks uncertain | Aaron Bower](https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/fb4790d25a7faa99ff8404ef7ec7077fc1187f60/0_297_4460_2677/master/4460.jpg?width=1200&height=630&quality=85&auto=format&fit=crop&overlay-align=bottom%2Cleft&overlay-width=100p&overlay-base64=L2ltZy9zdGF0aWMvb3ZlcmxheXMvdG8tZGVmYXVsdC5wbmc&enable=upscale&s=8aa6719787bc4c597411db6c996ae986)
Rugby league is about to enter a new era, with a reduced broadcast deal with Sky Sports likely to result in restructuring and a reduction in the number of professional clubs. Some will fold and the sport will look different: and nowhere is that change is being more keenly felt than in London.
Rugby league’s relationship with the capital since the formation of Fulham in 1980 has been a tempestuous one. For every success, there has been a setback. But the news that
London Broncos would revert to a part-time model in 2022 is a defining moment for the game’s future in London. With no full-time presence, the ramifications could be grave for a sport already struggling to make an impact in the city.