Grassroots Rugby League
Josh Simons Excerpts(5 days, 20 hours ago)
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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.
Josh Simons (Makerfield) (Lab)
I thank my hon. Friend for securing this debate. One of the rugby players most embedded in the community in my patch is Billy Boston. Local councillors in my patch have started a petition to secure Billy Boston a knighthood. Does my hon. Friend agree with me that in general, rugby league deserves more national recognition and that a very good way to start would be to ensure that Billy Boston becomes Sir Billy Boston?
Jade Botterill
I could not agree more. I absolutely think any recognition we can give the sport is great and we should look at doing that.
The impact, involvement and contribution of players is represented perfectly by Kevin Sinfield and the late, great Rob Burrow. It would be remiss of me not to mention these two gentlemen who perfectly personify rugby league and did so much to increase awareness of motor neurone disease, including securing investment for West Yorkshire’s very own MND research centre. That grit, loyalty, purpose and solidarity, alongside a commitment to others and their community, leaves real, positive, lasting change. We in this place could learn much from them. Community spirit is an over-used phrase, but not with league. It is what we are about, who we are, the game and the fight, but it is also the people as well—the places, families, clubs, and community. That is league, and that is why I am so proud of it.