Jon Dutton Appointed Chief Executive of Rugby League World Cup 2021

The Rugby Football League is delighted to announce that Jon Dutton has been appointed as Chief Executive of the Rugby League World Cup 2021.

Jon, 44, will commence his role on February 1st 2018 leaving his current post as Rugby Football League Director of Projects & People.

Jon, who led the successful bid for the tournament including a £25m funding award from HM Government, is a sports management graduate with over twenty years’ experience in the sports industry.

He has previously worked for organisations that include the PGA European Tour and Football Association and was the Operations Director for the Rugby League World Cup 2013. More recently Jon was Director of Readiness for the Tour de France Grand Depart in 2014 and the Tournament Director for the Ladbrokes Four Nations tournament in 2016.

Speaking following his appointment, Jon Dutton, said: "As a lifelong Rugby League fan who has grown up watching the sport, I am privileged to have been given the opportunity to lead the team that will deliver the 2021 Rugby League World Cup.

"Working on the 2013 World Cup provided me with tremendous experience and insight into how to host a successful tournament but the scope and scale of the 2021 Rugby League World Cup will provide completely different challenges and opportunities and I am excited to take these on in the coming years.

"Rugby League is one of the greatest sports in the world and I am determined that we will deliver a World Cup that this country and every sports fan in the UK will be proud of. We have an outstanding opportunity to deliver something brilliant for this sport and I am confident we will do so."

Later this year Jon will act as the Rugby League International Federation Tournament Commissioner for the Rugby League World Cup in Australia, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea.

Chairman of the Rugby League World Cup 2021, Nigel Wood, said: "We had considerable interest in the role but Jon was without doubt the outstanding candidate. He has a wealth of experience and knowledge and has worked at some of the biggest sporting events and organisations in the world. He was also an integral figure in ensuring the outstanding delivery of the 2013 Rugby League World Cup and in securing the rights to host the tournament again in 2021.

"Jon outlined his vision for the 2021 tournament and we are all confident that he will deliver on this and that England will host the biggest and best Rugby League World Cup in the history of the competition."

25 Years at #1: Your best source of news about the Olympics iswww.aroundtherings.com, for subscribers only