The Leith Group’s chief operating officer, Shan Dassanaike, and group planning director Paul Kallee-Grover have agreed to join the board of the North American Rugby League [NARL].
The North American Rugby League is a competition that brings together eight clubs from across the US and Canada to compete in two conferences, namely the East Coast Conference and the Canada Cup.
The first round of NARL fixtures will take place on the weekend of June 19, 2021, and are to be played in Brooklyn, New York.
Dassanaike and Kallee-Grover are both based in England’s northwest and share a passion for Rugby League as a sport. In their new roles, the duo will be working with the NARL board to promote the game in North America and stimulate its growth.
Dassanaike said: “It is a huge honour to be invited to the board and I look forward to combining my love of the game with my extensive operational and commercial business expertise.
“Personally, Rugby has been a great passion of mine since I started playing at the age of seven, and The Leith Group has always been a huge supporter of the game, so it is an exciting opportunity to be part of the team bringing Rugby League from the UK to North America.”
Kallee-Grover added: “As a Department for International Trade Export Champion with a track record of success in North America, I understand the value of combining sport and business. This move to take Rugby League from the UK into the North American mainstream aligns itself well with the ethos of the sport itself, and has all the hallmarks of a great campaign.”
The NARL’s chief operating officer, Robert Curtis, was pleased to welcome both directors on board and feels their combined experience will benefit the campaign to grow Rugby League across the Atlantic.
Curtis commented: “It is great to bring Shan and Paul onto our board. They have a great wealth of experience and we are delighted to have them with us.
“Both Paul and Shan share a love of the sport and are dedicated to growing the game across North America, so inviting them onto our board was both an easy and exciting decision.”
The North American Rugby League will be broadcasting all games live on Sports Flick with pre-season content and exhibition games along with behind-the-scenes content with players and club owners.
