St Helens centre Ben Davies urges IMG to broadcast Super League in more countries

The 2023 Super League season is just over two weeks away and it will be the first time the competition has been run under the supervision of IMG, who are now overseeing the sport with a strong focus on the commercial side.

Rugby league is one of the most intense, exciting and entertaining sports in the world, let alone the UK, and a St Helens player is urging IMG to capitalize on this by advising the management company to push the sport globally.

Ben Davies is entering his fourth Super League season after making his debut late in the pandemic-hit 202o season and the 22-year-old is coming off his best season yet.

It’s possible given his youth that he will play most of his career in an IMG governed Super League and as such his opinion and voice on the matter is incredibly important and he has weighed what changes could be made, to improve the game.

“I would like them to make the sport better known around the world. I think the games we host and the experience the fans have just need to be broadcast more often so that more eyes can see it,” Davies told AceOdds.

“I think people who don’t know rugby league might think, ‘It’s actually a great sport’. Of course, I’m personally a little biased because I’m a player, but I believe this is one of the best sports in this country and in the world, so I want more people to have a chance to experience it.”

A big network deal that stretches well beyond England and possibly even Europe would be a big move by IMG, but one that could happen as we’re already seeing the Sky Sports monopoly with the current Channel 4 -Deal is slightly weakened.

Davies also spoke about his prospects for 2023, as well as the lack of respect he has for the current generation of Red Vee players given their era of dominance.

“I think within Saints we honor ourselves and we know how good we are. But I think from the outside, I think it’s like we’re still not in that conversation about being one of the best teams in the Super League era. I think we should be nailed.

“This is our fourth year in a row, we will aim for five. I hope we get five and we’re going the right way to get five. But yeah, I don’t think they really get the recognition they should.

“Hopefully I think I put myself that forward last year and this year is about cementing my place and that if that’s in halves like I did last year or if that in the middle is. Mostly I want it in the middle, that’s my preferred position. But if somewhere else comes up where I can get the game time, I’m here for it.”

Saints now head down under following Mark Percival’s testimonial and will play the World Club Challenge against Penrith before returning to the Super League after a sharp turn to face Castleford Tigers in round two.