COMEDIAN and broadcaster Adam Hills MBE has been officially confirmed as the next president of the Rugby Football League.
The Australian is a Warrington Wolves fan and member of the club’s physical disability rugby league team.
He was said in July to be taking on the honorary role as the 33rd president – the first Australian to hold the position – but this required a resolution to be passed by the Rugby League Council.
This occurred during a meeting today, Wednesday, with Hills succeeding Speaker of the House of Commons Sir Lindsay Hoyle MP.
Hills’ two-year term will run until December 2026, and he will be supported by two vice presidents – former England women international Danika Priim and Swinton Lions chief executive Steve Wild.
Hills’ TV presenting roles have included hosting terrestrial coverage of Super League with Channel 4, but he is perhaps best known from The Last Leg.
As well as being a strong advocate for the game in general, he has also been a champion for physical disability rugby league as both an ambassador and player for Warrington and Australia.
Accepting his nomination, Hills said: “I am both chuffed and stoked to be confirmed as the incoming president of the RFL.
“I plan to use my presidency – and the gold chains – to increase the profile of the great sport of rugby league, and to shine a spotlight on the wheelchair, physical disability and learning disability variants of the game.
“Rugby league is not just a sport – it is a family, and I have already been bombarded with invitations to visit clubs from Workington to Cornwall and everywhere in between.
“I look forward to meeting as many members of the rugby league community as I can, and to swapping stories about the sport we love.
“I am also looking forward to working with my two vice presidents, Danika and Stephen, who may have to share the chains when England play Australia.”
RFL chair Simon Johnson paid tribute to the outgoing president, adding: “I want to thank Sir Lindsay for everything he has done for the sport as our president.
“It has been a real honour and privilege for our sport to have someone of the status of the Speaker of the House of Commons working on our behalf and attending so many of our events, with such an authentic enthusiasm and passion for rugby league.”
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