Harry surprises rugby league players on his 125th birthday

The Duke of Sussex surprised rugby league players to help celebrate the sport’s 125th birthday.

Harry, who is the patron of Rugby Football League, spoke via video link to players from all sections of the game about what it means to them and led the group through a set of six quizzes as part of the birthday celebrations.

He said: “It can bring so many families together, so many people together… it doesn’t matter if you’re in the stands, if you’re on the pitch, if you’re a player, if you’re a fan or whether you’re watching for the first time, every single person it’s about that sense of family.”

The Duke surprised the group by introducing a special guest – former Wigan and Great Britain captain Ellery Hanley.

Rugby league is one of the few sports that can pinpoint the time and date of its founding – 6.30pm on 29 August 1895 when 21 club representatives met at the George Hotel in Huddersfield to settle a dispute with the Rugby Football Union because of the break. time payments to the players and voted to break away from the governing body.

The result was the formation of the Northern Rugby Football Union, which later became the Rugby Football League, and officials gathered in St George’s Square in Huddersfield on Saturday to mark the anniversary.

The function was organized by Kirklees Council, who recently took ownership of the George Hotel, which will become the home of the new National Rugby League Museum.

International Rugby League chairman Greg Barclay sent his best wishes to the organisers, saying: “It’s a proud day for everyone involved in our great sport.

“We have a very long and proud history that deserves to be recognized in the sporting landscape.”