The Rugby Football League (RFL) has appointed Ralph Rimmer as its new CEO.

Rimmer, who has been interim CEO of the national governing body since January, will take over the new role with immediate effect.

A former amateur player and coach, Rimmer has worked at all levels of rugby league – in development, performance, club and stadium management – and is an experienced administrator.

He was CEO of Sheffield Eagles during the early days of Super League and helped take the club to the Challenge Cup Final in 1998. He then held the post of CEO of Huddersfield Giants from 1999 to 2004, before moving to the role of managing director of the Galpharm Stadium.

He first joined RFL in 2010, when he was named chief operating officer.

His international Rugby League experience includes managing the Ireland national team between 1997 and 2002.

"Ralph is a Rugby League man through and through and has extensive knowledge of the sport at every level," said Brian barwick, chair of RFL.

"He is a person of enormous integrity, a straight-talker and somebody who gets things done. He also has the respect of those in the sport for regularly demonstrating those qualities. He is the right person at the right time to be the Executive in charge of our organisation.

Commenting on his appointment, Rimmer said: “I have always taken my responsibilities within the sport extremely seriously, and I take up this role with a 100 per cent commitment to driving Rugby League forward.

"I have very many strong relationships within the game and I intend to work collaboratively with all to achieve its future growth and success.

"I believe that I understand its changing landscape, and am hugely ambitious as to what we can achieve together in the future, including maximising the significant opportunities presented by a home World Cup in 2021. I am convinced that exciting times lie ahead.”