Wigan will NOT be home to the national rugby league museum

Wigan has lost out on being the location for the national rugby league museum.
Huddersfield's George HotelHuddersfield's George Hotel
Huddersfield's George Hotel

Rugby League Cares, the charity which chose the location, has opted instead for the George Hotel in Huddersfield - the birth place of the sport.

Warriors chairman Ian Lenagan, in partnership with Wigan council, had bid to home a "world class" attraction at Robin Park.

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RL Cares says the decision to establish the 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.

Tim Adams, 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.

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“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.

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Wigan submitted an offer to host the museum four years ago, only for it to be granted to Bradford.

But lengthy delays and failed funding bids forced that plan to be abandoned and RL Cares revealed it was looking for a new location for the attraction.