THERE’S a big Rugby League night in Oldham tonight when the ‘full house’ notices will go up outside the St Herbert’s Parish Hall on Broadway which will host the Oldham RL Players’ Association’s annual dinner.
Local lad Iestyn Harris, one of the few players in world rugby to have played internationally at both League and Union and a former half-back star at Warrington, Leeds Rhinos and Bradford Bulls, will be on home territory as guest speaker.
His father, Paul, played for Saddleworth and for Rochdale Hornets.
The Harris rugby dynasty was started by the late Norman (Paul’s dad, Iestyn’s grandad), who “came north” from South Wales to play centre for Oldham before becoming player-coach at Rochdale and also seeing service with Leigh.
Oldham RLFC, headed by chairman Chris Hamilton; Rugby Oldham, the Supporters Trust; the Oldham RL Heritage Trust; the Oldham Amateur League; and various community clubs from around the borough will all be represented at the (Past) Players’ Association’s biggest social event of the year.
A large group from Rochdale will also be present, representing the Hornets’ Past Players Association.
Among items to be auctioned off will be two limited edition prints with an Oldham Rugby theme and a photograph of Watersheddings when it staged its last-ever game.
