Ex-Arsenal captain Tony Adams named Rugby Football League president

Former England and Arsenal captain Tony Adams has been named as the Rugby Football League's new president.

Adams, 52, who has forged close links with the RFL through his Sporting Chance charity, will replace current president Andy Burnham next summer.

"Tony Adams MBE has been nominated to become the 29th president of the Rugby Football League in 2019," an RFL statement read.

"The former Arsenal and England captain, who has become closely linked to the game's welfare programmes through the Sporting Chance charity he founded in 2000, will succeed the current president, Andy Burnham, next summer."

RFL chairman Brian Barwick said: "Tony Adams is known and respected throughout sport and beyond, not only for his outstanding playing career with Arsenal, but more recently for his pioneering work with Sporting Chance.

"The charity has helped more than 400 rugby league players since the RFL entered into an official partnership with Sporting Chance in 2011, and Tony himself delivered seminars at Wigan and Hull earlier this year.

"The game has recognised the importance of mental health, for players and everyone else involved, and Tony's election is another significant step in that regard."

At a Rugby League Council meeting in Huddersfield on Wednesday, Doncaster rugby league club's chief executive Carl Hall was nominated to succeed Pat Crawshaw as the RFL's new vice-president and Chris Hurst will join the RFL Board as a non-executive director.

Reporting by Press Association.