Paul Sculthorpe MBE, Saint #1083, will be granted the sport's ultimate honour next month when he will be inducted into the Rugby League Hall of Fame.
Recognised as one of the best of the best, Sculthorpe’s induction will take place at the Hall of Fame celebration dinner hosted by Rugby League Cares on Tuesday, 22nd October 2024.
In the Class of 2024 to join our sport’s most prestigious and exclusive club, Paul will be inducted alongside; Jane Banks, Michelle Land, Jamie Peacock MBE, James Lomas, and fellow Saint Alan Prescott whose status as an RL Hall of Famer was announced last week.
Paul Sculthorpe was twice named Man of Steel during an illustrious career with St.Helens, England and Great Britain when he was recognised as one of the most athletic and talented players in the sport’s history.
Having played his junior rugby in his home-town of Oldham, Sculthorpe began his professional career at Warrington in 1995 and was selected by Great Britain for their 1996 Oceania tour, when he gained the first of 26 GB caps.
He joined Saints for a then world record fee of £375,000 the following year, going on to make 261 appearances for the club over the next 11 years. In that time, he helped St Helens to Super League Grand Final wins in 1999, 2000 and 2002, and Challenge Cup final victories in 2001, 2004 and 2006, as well as three World Club Challenge titles.
‘Scully’ became the first player to be named Man of Steel in successive seasons in 2001 and 2002.
RFL Chief Executive Tony Sutton said: “On behalf of the whole sport, I would like to congratulate Jane, Michelle, Jamie and Paul on their very worthy induction into the RL Hall of Fame.
“All four represented their clubs and their country with distinction throughout their playing careers and acted as inspirational role models to countless numbers of young players.
“It is a real privilege to be able to bestow this very special honour on four individuals who have made such important contributions to the history of our sport.”
To be considered for entry into the Hall of Fame, players must have a record of outstanding achievement at the very highest levels of the sport; possess a reputation that transcends the era in which they played; and have made a contribution to the sport that will last as long as Rugby League is played.
Inductees are selected by a specially-convened panel comprising representatives from across the sport, including former international players, coaches, historians, administrators and media.
Ahead of the Rugby League World Cup in England in 2022, significant changes were made to the RL Hall of Fame induction procedure, to allow the consideration of women and wheelchair players – consistent with the staging of men’s, women’s and wheelchair competitions in sport’s most inclusive World Cup.
Two years ago, former Great Britain internationals Brenda Dobek, Lisa McIntosh and Sally Milburn had the honour of becoming the first three women to be inducted into the Hall of Fame alongside the distinguished quartet of Andy Farrell OBE, Adrian Morley, Clive Sullivan MBE and David Watkins.
The RL Hall of Fame Dinner is a spectacular and unmissable night when the new inductees will be welcomed into this exclusive club by existing Hall of Famers. The dinner sees people from across the sport, including fans, sponsors and the clubs whose players have been recognised as the greatest of all time, come together to celebrate sporting heroes.
Tickets for the RL Hall of Fame dinner at The Edge, Wigan, on Tuesday, 22nd October are available at the special early-bird price of £60 per person before September 20th.
To book, or for information, please email [email protected]
