50TH ANNIVERSARY OF LEEDS UNIVERSITY RUGBY LEAGUE CLUB AND THE BIRTH OF UNIVERSITY AND COLLEGE RUGBY LEAGUE

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That this House welcomes the 50th anniversary of Leeds University Rugby League Football Club, which was formed in 1967; notes that this moment was also the start of student and university rugby league as Leeds was the first university to approve rugby league as an official sport; praises the role of founding members Andrew Cudbertson, Jack Abernethy and Cec Thompson, the first black person to play for Great Britain, in starting the club and making it happen; further notes that Thompson and Cudbertson's contribution is recognised by two of University and College Rugby League's annual awards; notes that the official recognition of rugby league at Leeds University marked the start of a widespread growth in student rugby league; notes that there are now over 100 teams at universities and colleges in the UK; notes that the first university game was between Leeds and Liverpool in 1968; celebrates this anniversary and welcomes the erection of a blue plaque at the University of Leeds Student Union Old Bar by University of Leeds Vice Chancellor Sir Alan Langlands on 10 March 2017 during the 50th anniversary celebration weekend; looks forward to the 2017 Student Rugby League World Cup in Australia, the ninth time this tournament has taken place; and wishes all current and former Leeds University Rugby League and all current and former student and university rugby league clubs best wishes.