KLTV Newsdesk
A new exhibition is being held in Huddersfield Town Centre on Saturday 29 August 2020 to commemorate the 125th anniversary of the formation of Rugby League.
For the first time, A collection of the sport’s major trophies will be gathered together in one place including the Coral Challenge Cup, Betfred Super League Grand Final Trophy, and the Men’s and Wheelchair Rugby League World Cup trophies.
They will all be displayed in St George’s Square on the day.
The exhibition has been organised by Kirklees Council in collaboration with partners Rugby Football League, Rugby League Cares, Banana Kick and Huddersfield BID.
As well as the anniversary, the exhibition marks the beginning of Kirklees’ journey to the Rugby League World Cup in 2021 when a quarter-final match will be held at the John Smith’s Stadium on 12 November.
The celebrations also mark the start of the programme to develop the first-ever National Rugby League Museum with the shadow board being set up to oversee progress in the next twelve months meeting for the first time after seeing the exhibition.
The new museum is set to be established in the George Hotel where 21 Northern teams met on 29 August 1895 and 20 voted to break away from the Rugby Football Union to form their own league.
As part of the 125 celebrations, Huddersfield BID has said they will launch an interactive Rugby League trail around Huddersfield Town Centre on Saturday 29 August.
Members of the public will be able to learn more about rugby league by scanning QR codes located around Huddersfield Town Centre, which will guide fans through some of the game’s most historic moments.
Cllr Shabir Pandor, Leader of Kirklees Council, said: “We are very excited to be working with the RFL, Rugby League Cares and others to bring rugby league home to its birthplace.
“Rugby League is a significant part of Kirklees’ history and we are proud to tell this story and how the sport has impacted on our towns and villages.
“The exhibition is a first and provides an opportunity for us to thank all those who supported our successful bid to host the National Rugby League Museum and celebrate with local rugby league fans by inviting them to have their photo taken with the cups.”
Simon Johnson, the Chair of the Rugby Football League, said: “We are delighted that the 125th anniversary of the foundation of our great sport will be marked in George Square – where it all started, with that radical meeting in 1895.
“The game has so much to celebrate, especially as we look forward to staging the Rugby League World Cup in 2021 – and now the establishment of a National Rugby League Museum in Huddersfield.
“We are grateful to Kirklees Council for recognising Huddersfield’s unique place in history as the birthplace of a sport.”
Due to COVID-19, places at the exhibition are limited and fans snapped them up as soon as they were released online on Friday.
The council has said they are making sure photos of the cups are available to view on their social media channels.