Rugby League World
 | |
| Editor | Ryan Sparks |
|---|---|
| Categories | Sport, Rugby League |
| Frequency | Monthly |
| Circulation | 307,367 (2015) |
| First issue | May, 1976 |
| Company | League Publications |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
| Website | totalrl.com |
| ISSN | 1466-0105 |
Rugby League World is a dedicated rugby league magazine published monthly in the United Kingdom. Other rugby league titles published by League Publications Ltd include the weekly newspaper Rugby Leaguer & League Express and the annual Gillette Rugby League Yearbook.
History
Rugby League World began life in May 1976 as Open Rugby, founded by Harry Edgar, who published and edited the title until July 1998 when it was sold to League Publications Ltd. Graham Clay then took over as editor, and oversaw the change of title to Rugby League World in March 1999.
A short-lived Australian edition was launched and ran for 7 issues, between March to September 2002.
In 2011 an Apple iPad and Android edition of the magazine was launched.
List of editors
'Open Rugby'
- Harry Edgar - May 1976 to July 1998
- Graham Clay - August 1998 to February 1999
Rugby League World
- Graham Clay - March 1999 to February 2002
- Tony Hannan - March 2002 to March 2004
- Tim Butcher - April 2004 to March 2007
- Richard de la Riviere - April 2007 to January 2010
- John Drake - February 2010 to March 2013
- Gareth Walker - March 2013 to March 2015
- Joe Whitley - March 2015 to August 2016
- Ryan Sparks - August 2016 to Present
Golden Boot Award
In 1985, Open Rugby created the Golden Boot Award, to be given annually to the best player of the year, as chosen by a ballot of international rugby league writers and broadcasters. Due to withdrawal of sponsorship, the Golden Boot was not awarded between 1990 to 1998, but the award was resurrected in 1999 and has been presented every year since. In 2011, an ongoing project was started in Rugby League World to determine retrospective winners of the Golden Boot for the years 1990-1998.
Sponsorships
In 2002 Rugby League World Magazine sponsored the Great Britain team against Australia in the first Test Match played in Sydney for a decade, and has also sponsored the England team in the European Nations Cup.