Announcements

A NATIONAL Rugby League Museum will be created at the George Hotel in Huddersfield, it has been announced.

Charity Rugby League Cares has announced a partnership with Kirklees Council to create the first ever National Rugby League Museum at the George Hotel in Huddersfield, which was the birthplace of the sport in 1895.

The decision to establish the world-class facility at the sport’s spiritual home was made following a recommendation by an independent selection panel, which had considered expressions of interest from locations across the north of England.

The Star reported that St Helens did not submit a bid this time round due to cost reasons, with the council saying it would be expected to be the "sole funder".

The town did make a bid to host the museum during the initial application process four years ago which led to Bradford initially being awarded the project.

However, long delays and failed funding bids forced this original plan to be abandoned and a new location was sought for.

The George Hotel is the venue where the sport that would become Rugby League was born: on August 29, 1895, 21 clubs met at the hotel to agree a breakaway from the Rugby Football Union to enable working class players to be compensated for wages lost when playing rugby.

Tim Adams MBE, the Chairman of RL Cares, said: “I am sure everyone in the sport will welcome this decision to establish the National RL Museum at the George Hotel.

“The museum will tell the wonderful story of a sport that remains as important to the communities in which it is played as it was in 1895.

“We are looking forward to working with the members and officers of Kirklees Council to develop a museum that will be the envy of sports around the world in a location that means so much to so many people.

“I would like to thank all the other centres who expressed an interest in hosting the museum: Kirklees Council were not alone in putting forward a compelling case to the selection panel, who deliberated long and hard before handing down their recommendation.

“The interest shown is a testimony to the prestige that comes with being the home of the National RL Museum, and ultimately acknowledges the importance of the George Hotel to Rugby League.

“Our thanks also go to all the members of the independent selection panel who helped us reach this important decision: their wealth of knowledge of the museums landscape and the sport was invaluable.”

The George Hotel has been closed since 2013 and has been purchased by Kirklees Council as part of an ambitious plan to make the museum the focal point of a multi-million pound redevelopment of Huddersfield town centre.

Cllr Shabir Pandor, leader of Kirklees Council, said: “This is absolutely fantastic news and we’re really excited to get started and bring Rugby League home.

“We asked our residents what they wanted to see in Huddersfield town centre and one of the most popular answers people gave was to get the George Hotel back open. We listened and made the decision to buy the building so we can make sure it not only reopens but stays open.

“It is so much more than a building to local people and to Rugby League fans across the world. This is where it all began for Rugby League and there is no better place to create a museum that celebrates and remembers the history of the game.”

Cllr Peter McBride, cabinet member for regeneration, said: “This is our biggest step towards delivering our Huddersfield Blueprint vision yet.

“Since we announced we wanted to bring a National Rugby League Museum to the George Hotel we have received a huge amount of support from across the world. It is the birthplace of the sport and it’s really important that we cherish that.

“Huddersfield and Rugby League have a very special bond, and we know that Rugby League fans from all around will be delighted at the prospect of visiting the museum.”

The announcement has been welcomed by the Chairman of the Rugby Football League, Simon Johnson: “On behalf of the RFL, I congratulate Rugby League Cares on this fresh and much-needed focus on celebrating the rich and unique history of our great sport of Rugby League.

“It is high time that there is a National Rugby League Museum to celebrate our sport’s rich heritage. How fitting then, that, as we celebrate the birth of our sport 125 years ago, the location of that radical meeting, the George Hotel in Huddersfield, should be the chosen location.

“I know that RL Cares had a tough choice to make from some compelling bids. I thank the other bidders for their participation in this process. I hope they too will appreciate the decision that RL Cares took.”

Work to renovate the interior and exterior of the George Hotel is scheduled to begin in the next few weeks, with plans for the galleries, exhibitions and interactive displays that will feature in the National RL Museum being drawn up in the coming months.

RL Cares and Kirklees Council will also work together to submit applications to the National Heritage Lottery Fund for assistance with funding one of the most important museum projects seen in the UK in recent decades.