Switching sports: Former Arsenal captain Tony Adams (Picture: PA)

Adams has become closely linked to the game’s welfare programmes through the Sporting Chance charity he founded in 2000 and will succeed the current president Andy Burnham next summer.

Doncaster chief executive Carl Hall, a New Zealander who originally came to England to play for the South Yorkshire club in 1988, was also nominated vice-president at the meeting of the Rugby League Council in Huddersfield.

The former centre, who featured with Bradford Northern, Leeds, Featherstone Rovers and Hull KR during his playing career, takes over from Pat Crawshaw next July.

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Finally, Chris Hurst, a digital sports specialist who has worked for BBC Sport, the International Cricket Council, the Premier League and Nielsen Sports, has joined the RFL Board as a Non-Executive Director.

He replaces Clare Morrow who has served her maximum term after originally joining the Board in 2008.

Adams said: “It will be an honour to become the next President of the RFL.

“I am passionate about working with everyone in the sport to raise the profile of mental health, wellness and resilience, for players and for everyone in rugby league.

Tony Adams in his time as Portsmouth manager (Picture: Chris Ison/PA Wire)

“I’d like to play my part in championing this brilliant sport on the national stage.”

RFL chairman Brian Barwick said: “It is a pleasure to be able to confirm these three excellent additions to our team.

“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. I also welcome the election as vice-president of Carl Hall, who has given so much to British rugby league since arriving here from New Zealand 30 years ago. This is well-deserved recognition for him, and for the Doncaster club.

Chief executive of Doncaster Rugby League Club, Carl Hall