Grassroots Rugby League Debate
Full Debate: Read Full DebateDepartment: Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport
Jim Shannon
Main Page: Jim Shannon (Democratic Unionist Party - Strangford)Department Debates - View all Jim Shannon's debates with the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport
Grassroots Rugby League
Jim Shannon Excerpts(6 days, 13 hours ago)
Westminster HallRead Full debate Read Hansard Text Read Debate Ministerial Extracts
Westminster Hall is an alternative Chamber for MPs to hold debates, named after the adjoining Westminster Hall.
Each debate is chaired by an MP from the Panel of Chairs, rather than the Speaker or Deputy Speaker. A Government Minister will give the final speech, and no votes may be called on the debate topic.
This information is provided by Parallel Parliament and does not comprise part of the offical record
Jade Botterill (Ossett and Denby Dale) (Lab)
I beg to move,
That this House has considered Government support for grassroots rugby league.
It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Mr Vickers.
There was recently a debate in Westminster Hall about rugby union, and I am glad that now that the six nations is over, we can get back to talking about real rugby, especially on the day that the return of the Ashes has just been announced. From the grassroots to the biggest stages, I know all too well how sport is an essential part of our lives. The value sporting clubs bring to communities cannot be overstated, but in my view, there is something truly special about rugby league because it is entirely embedded in our communities.
Those deep roots come from the history of the sport, with northern towns and working-class players wanting a competition that better represented and reflected them. We may see players making TV big hits on a weekend and scoring match-winning tries, but in the week we see them doing the big shop at the local Asda, coaching their kids team, at the school drop off and even—sometimes—down the pub.
Jim Shannon (Strangford) (DUP)
I congratulate the hon. Lady on securing this debate; her enthusiasm is infectious. Back in Northern Ireland, the Spar grocery chain group have supported rugby for some two years. Does the hon. Lady agree that, while we welcome that local business support for the grassroots, there is a need for governmental support and incentives to make it easier to support the sport and promote it in the lower classes as well as to women, so that they have the opportunity as well?
Jade Botterill
I thank the hon. Member for his intervention. This is my first ever Westminster Hall debate, so I am very grateful for any interventions. I agree that we need to do more and I will come on to women in the sport later.
Rugby league players are not invisible heroes driving around in Ferraris and posting their lavish lifestyles on Instagram. These players and their teams are in their community, not above it. Their victories are our victories as much as we also share their defeats.