By Phil Campbell, Sportsbeat
There are not many more enthusiastic people about something that Adam Hills concerns the rugby league: he loves it.
The Australian comic strip, known for having welcomed speeches and sketches at the end of the evening, show the top floor, does not try its passion for the 13 players code either.
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After all, the 55 -year -old man was adorned in the Kit of the Rugby League in Australia of the 2017 Rugby World Cup on a traditional London bus, to mark 100 days until the return of ABK beer ashes.
It will mark a rebirth of one of the most emblematic series of the Rugby League which occurred in 2003 when Australia has toured the United Kingdom to play Great Britain.
“I am so excited,” said the native of Sydney.
“It’s been 22 years since the last ashes, and I was shocked by that; This is something that should happen all the time.
“I am so excited to show the rugby league to my London friends and say:” Ok, guys, you have to look at that. I know you don’t know what it is about, or you might think you know, but it’s five levels, especially when it’s an ash test. “
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The launch began in Clapham – the unofficial Australian capital of London – and also presented the captain of England George Williams, his international teammate Jack Welsby and the legend of the Rugby League Martin Offiah.
But the presence of Hills at the event goes beyond his celebrity status, he is also the president of the Rugby Football League, a role he has occupied since the beginning of the year, and which fulfills him with immense pride.
“Honestly, I had goosebumps when the email came by offering it to me,” he radiated.
“At the start, I was a little hesitant because I thought:” How is it going to have an Australian as president of the RFL? “
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“But I think it’s good to have an Australian cry on things, because sometimes the rugby league is a bit forgotten here.
“I come from a city where you are going,” it’s the best sport in the world “and I’m not ashamed to say that.
“So, I thought, okay, I will play the role so that I can cry about rugby League in a positive way.”
And Hill’s did exactly that, trying to increase the profile of sport in all possible ways, from the national to community game, to everything else, in particular by speaking to Artur Martirosyan, president of the Ukrainian rugby league.
“At the back of [a Last Leg episode where the plight of rugby league in Ukraine was highlighted] That, I was put in contact with the president, “he explained.
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“I had a facetime with him, and I said,” What is the best time to chat? “
“He replied:” Sunday, because I am in the army. And I said to myself: “Because you’re on Sunday?” He said, “No, no, Sundays are when my commander left so that I could make a phone call.
“I was amazed at this stage. I asked him what he had done, and he just sent me a photo of himself behind a anti-aircraft pistol. I was like” Saint S ** t! “”
“When I ended up talking about the rugby league for an hour. We asked them what they needed, which was a kit, bullets, etc.
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“So, when we talk, they flew to Poland and then take a 15 -hour bus to present the kit to them. I love things like that.”
Hills was a member of the Australian team of the inaugural World Cup of the Rugby League for physical disabilities in 2022 and hopes, thanks to its role as president of the RFL, to try a promotion disability rugby league as much as it can also.
“Whatever the sport, there must be a England in Australia,” he continued.
“I played the Rugby Ligue of Disabilities, and since I became president, and even before, I do what I can to make sure that there is a Rugby League for the Handicap during the next World Cup.
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“We did it once and it cannot be a single off. And I also think that there should also be a disabled rugby league ash.
“I really want it to be one thing.”
The series starts at the Wembley stadium on October 25, before going to Liverpool a week later, where a closed window of Bramley-Moore will occupy the front of the stage.
The Leeds Rhinos Headingley stadium is the place of the third and last test on November 8, which is also a sale.
More than 60,000 tickets were sold on the first day of the priority sales window, which was a record figure for any launch of the series of rugby leagues.
Hills predicted a narrow series and expressed his desire for a winning decision maker – all the third test.
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“It will finish 2-1 to someone,” he said.
“The rugby league will be the winner, and I think this last match in Headingley will be incredible.
“As australian, where does not want to play? I’m absolutely pumped for this match.”
The legend of the Rugby League Martin Offiah Mbe, the captain of England, George Williams, Jack Welsby, and Australian actor and Australian actor and president of the Rugby Football League, marked the milestone.
