Latest news with #GeorgeWilliams
South Wales Argus
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- South Wales Argus
Adam Hills not hiding passionate love for rugby league
The Australian comic, known for hosting late-night talk and sketch show The Last Leg, makes no attempt to hide his passion for the 13-player code either. After all, the 55-year-old was adorned in Australia's rugby league kit from the 2017 Rugby League World Cup on a traditional London bus kitted out to mark 100 days to go until the return of the ABK Beer Ashes. It will mark a revival of one of rugby league's most iconic series which last happened in 2003 when Australia toured the UK to play Great Britain. 'I'm so excited,' the Sydney native said. 'It's been 22 years since the last Ashes, and I've been shocked by that; this is something that should be happening all the time. 'I'm so excited to show rugby league off to my London friends and go, 'OK, guys you have to watch this. I know you don't know what it's about, or you might think you know, but this is five levels up, especially when it's an Ashes Test'.' The launch began in Clapham – London's unofficial Australian capital – and also featured England captain George Williams, international teammate Jack Welsby and rugby league legend Martin Offiah. But Hills' presence at the event goes beyond his celebrity status, he is also the Rugby Football League president, a role he has held since the start of the year, and one that fills him with enormous pride. 'I honestly got goosebumps when the email came through offering it to me,' he beamed. 'Initially I was a little bit hesitant because I thought, 'How's it going to look having an Australian as the president of the RFL?' 'But I think it's good to have an Australian shouting about stuff, because sometimes rugby league gets a little bit forgotten over here. 'I come from a city where you go, 'this is the best sport in the world' and I'm not ashamed to say that. 'So, I thought, okay, I'll take the role so I can shout about rugby league in a positive way.' And Hill's has been doing just that, trying to raise the profile of the sport in every way possible, from the national to the community game, to everything in between, including speaking to Artur Martirosyan, the president of Ukrainian Rugby League. 'Off the back of [a Last Leg episode where the plight of rugby league in Ukraine was highlighted] that, I was put in touch with the president,' he explained. 'I had a FaceTime with him, and I said, 'when's the best time to chat?' 'He replied, 'Sunday is, because I'm in the army.' And I was like, 'because you get Sunday's off?' He said, 'no, no, Sundays are when my commanding officer is off so I can make a phone call. 'I was amazed at this point. I asked him what he did, and he just sent me a picture of himself behind an anti-aircraft gun. I was like 'holy s**t!' 'When then ended up talking about rugby league for an hour. We asked them what they needed, which was kit, balls etc, so we put out a plea on the Last Leg and the guys from Keighley Cougars said they'd make the Ukrainian national kit for them. 'So, as we speak, they've flown out to Poland to then take a 15-hour bus to present them with the kit. I'm loving stuff like that.' Hills was a member of the Australian side at the inaugural Physical Disability Rugby League World Cup in 2022 and hopes, through his role as RFL president, to try a promote disability rugby league as much as he can too. 'Regardless of the sport, there has to be an England v Australia Ashes,' he continued. 'I've played disability rugby league, and since becoming president, and even before then, I'm doing what I can to make sure there's disability rugby league at the next World Cup. 'We did it once and it can't be a one off. And I also think there should be a disability rugby league Ashes too. 'I really want that to be a thing.' The series kicks off at Wembley Stadium on October 25, before heading to Liverpool a week later, where a sold-out Bramley-Moore Dock will take centre stage. Leeds Rhinos' Headingley Stadium is the venue for the third and final Test on November 8, which is also a sellout. More than 60,000 tickets were sold on the first day of the priority sales window, which was a record-breaking figure for any rugby league series launch. Hills predicted a close series and expressed his desire for a winner-takes-all decider come the third Test. 'It's going to finish 2-1 to someone,' he said. 'Rugby League will be the winner, and I think that final game at Headingley will be unbelievable. 'As an Australian, where do you not want to be playing? I'm absolutely pumped for that match.' Marking the milestone with a '100 days to go' London Trophy Tour were Rugby League legend Martin Offiah MBE, current England captain George Williams, star player Jack Welsby, and Aussie comedian and Rugby Football League President, Adam Hills MBE.
Powys County Times
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Powys County Times
Adam Hills not hiding passionate love for rugby league
There aren't many people more enthusiastic about something than Adam Hills is about rugby league: he absolutely loves it. The Australian comic, known for hosting late-night talk and sketch show The Last Leg, makes no attempt to hide his passion for the 13-player code either. After all, the 55-year-old was adorned in Australia's rugby league kit from the 2017 Rugby League World Cup on a traditional London bus kitted out to mark 100 days to go until the return of the ABK Beer Ashes. It will mark a revival of one of rugby league's most iconic series which last happened in 2003 when Australia toured the UK to play Great Britain. 😆 A new cover photo! 🏴 #EnglandRL — England Rugby League (@England_RL) July 17, 2025 'I'm so excited,' the Sydney native said. 'It's been 22 years since the last Ashes, and I've been shocked by that; this is something that should be happening all the time. 'I'm so excited to show rugby league off to my London friends and go, 'OK, guys you have to watch this. I know you don't know what it's about, or you might think you know, but this is five levels up, especially when it's an Ashes Test'.' The launch began in Clapham – London's unofficial Australian capital – and also featured England captain George Williams, international teammate Jack Welsby and rugby league legend Martin Offiah. But Hills' presence at the event goes beyond his celebrity status, he is also the Rugby Football League president, a role he has held since the start of the year, and one that fills him with enormous pride. 'I honestly got goosebumps when the email came through offering it to me,' he beamed. 'Initially I was a little bit hesitant because I thought, 'How's it going to look having an Australian as the president of the RFL?' 'But I think it's good to have an Australian shouting about stuff, because sometimes rugby league gets a little bit forgotten over here. 'I come from a city where you go, 'this is the best sport in the world' and I'm not ashamed to say that. 'So, I thought, okay, I'll take the role so I can shout about rugby league in a positive way.' And Hill's has been doing just that, trying to raise the profile of the sport in every way possible, from the national to the community game, to everything in between, including speaking to Artur Martirosyan, the president of Ukrainian Rugby League. 'Off the back of [a Last Leg episode where the plight of rugby league in Ukraine was highlighted] that, I was put in touch with the president,' he explained. 'I had a FaceTime with him, and I said, 'when's the best time to chat?' 'He replied, 'Sunday is, because I'm in the army.' And I was like, 'because you get Sunday's off?' He said, 'no, no, Sundays are when my commanding officer is off so I can make a phone call. 'I was amazed at this point. I asked him what he did, and he just sent me a picture of himself behind an anti-aircraft gun. I was like 'holy s**t!' 'When then ended up talking about rugby league for an hour. We asked them what they needed, which was kit, balls etc, so we put out a plea on the Last Leg and the guys from Keighley Cougars said they'd make the Ukrainian national kit for them. 'So, as we speak, they've flown out to Poland to then take a 15-hour bus to present them with the kit. I'm loving stuff like that.' Hills was a member of the Australian side at the inaugural Physical Disability Rugby League World Cup in 2022 and hopes, through his role as RFL president, to try a promote disability rugby league as much as he can too. 'Regardless of the sport, there has to be an England v Australia Ashes,' he continued. 'I've played disability rugby league, and since becoming president, and even before then, I'm doing what I can to make sure there's disability rugby league at the next World Cup. 'We did it once and it can't be a one off. And I also think there should be a disability rugby league Ashes too. 'I really want that to be a thing.' The series kicks off at Wembley Stadium on October 25, before heading to Liverpool a week later, where a sold-out Bramley-Moore Dock will take centre stage. Leeds Rhinos' Headingley Stadium is the venue for the third and final Test on November 8, which is also a sellout. More than 60,000 tickets were sold on the first day of the priority sales window, which was a record-breaking figure for any rugby league series launch. Hills predicted a close series and expressed his desire for a winner-takes-all decider come the third Test. 'It's going to finish 2-1 to someone,' he said. 'Rugby League will be the winner, and I think that final game at Headingley will be unbelievable. 'As an Australian, where do you not want to be playing? I'm absolutely pumped for that match.'
The Sun
5 days ago
- Sport
- The Sun
England captain George Williams says Ashes test is ‘huge' and that he's been ‘waiting a long time' for Australia clash
ENGLAND captain George Williams has emphasised the magnitude of the Rugby League Ashes ahead of the series in October. The international skipper admitted he's feeling the nerves ahead of a huge test against the best side in the world. 4 4 4 The 30-year-old half back, who plays for Luke Littler's favourite team Warrington Wolves, still cannot wait to get going in 100 days' time. Williams told SunSport: "These are the ones you want to be involved in. "Playing at Wembley, playing for your country against the best, or what is known as the best team in the world. "Pretty easy to be excited for this one." 'The group has got belief' Australia are currently ranked as the No 1 side in international Rugby League, but that has not put England off, with Williams saying: "we have got belief. "We've been building for a couple of years now, so the group has got belief. "We know what we've been doing works, don't get me wrong, we know we're going to have to be better if we're going to beat them [Australia]. CASINO SPECIAL - BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS 4 "There's some confidence within the group that we can do it. "We've played Tonga and Samoa in the last few years, and beat them quite convincingly, so now it is time to play against the best. "If we were to go on and win the series, it would be right at the top of my list [of career achievements]." While emphasising how big the test is, the England captain said: "I don't actually get too nervous, but I reckon I might be a little bit nervous for this one. "In a good way, just use that as fuel to motivate me. "It's a big occasion, so a little bit of nerves. "You could say it's any other game, but it's not, it's bigger, it's huge, it's something that we've been waiting for for a long time." 'Any win will do' When asked if he would give anyone who may not have played on a stage this big some advice, Williams said: "enjoy it. "Playing for England is the pinnacle, so any chance you get, do it with a smile on your face. "I'd say express yourself, don't go in your shell, nothing major, do what you've been doing to get here. "It just goes up a little level when you play international." Williams was quietly optimistic about a series win, saying: "I'd like to say 3-0. "Being honest, a 2-1 win I'll take, any win will do. "Any series win will do, whether that's 2-1 or 3-0, so I'll go 2-1." England are set to clash Australia in the Rugby League Ashes in October this year, with the first test taking place at Wembley Stadium.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Sam Burgess wants 'clarity' on Williams future as deadline looms
SAM Burgess admits that, as of now, what happens with George Williams' Warrington Wolves future is out of the club's and player's hands. However, he insists he still retained hope that he will not have to start sourcing a more immediate replacement for his captain as he ponders a return to the NRL. Reports linking the England skipper with a move to the Dolphins franchise emerged last month, with Williams understood to have informed Warrington that he will not be signing an extension to his current contract, which runs out at the end of next season. Negotiations between The Wire and the Brisbane-based Dolphins around the possibility of the 30-year-old being released from his deal a year early have been ongoing, with Warrington chairman Stuart Middleton confirming to the Warrington Guardian that they would not do so without a substantial transfer fee. Williams himself told media during a promotional tour for the upcoming Ashes series that there is a deadline of this coming Monday for a decision to be made either way, and Burgess admits he is looking forward to being able to move on with clarity. "There's a deadline coming up so hopefully we'll be a bit clearer about that because it's not been ideal," he said. "It will come to a close over the weekend and then we'll move on." "As a club, we've been great through the whole process for him but it's out of our hands really, and George's. "If it's the other way, we all just have to move on and wish George all the best but we'll hopefully have some clarity on that over the weekend. "He's a hard guy to replace – some would say virtually impossible – so that comes into play. "My best-case scenario would be that I don't have to but if I do, I'd wish him all the best – I love Georgie, I played with him and he's a great mate of mine. "If he does stay, it obviously gives us a bit of time and a lot can change in 12 months too. We'll wait and see." Whether Williams is a Warrington player in 2026 or not remains to be seen but having recovered from a long-term ankle injury, he will be a key part of efforts to ensure 2025 does not end in disappointment for his side. And Burgess says the most recent evidence - a player-of-the-match display in the victory over Catalans - illustrates that his commitment to the cause has not wavered. "You only have to watch his performance at the weekend to see that he's dialled in," he said. "He didn't go too great the week before but his effort and commitment are second-to-none. "It's never something you have to worry about with George – if anything, you have to pull him back sometimes."
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
A bus and a buzz - Williams on spreading Ashes word
In his BBC Sport column, England captain George Williams spreads the word about the autumn Ashes series and gives insight into the recent squad get-together. Just 100 days are left until this England side gets the chance to taste an Ashes series again and we face Australia for the first time since 2017. Me and Jack Welsby went down to London on Wednesday, driving round the city on a red bus and visiting some tourist sites for photos and filming. We're trying to grow the buzz, to get people talking about the series down there and get involved. As players, you want to be involved in the biggest of games, and I don't see many bigger - if any. Even though there is still a lot of rugby to be played in Super League, to play against Australia at the end of the year is the pinnacle. I actually don't mind doing the press and promotion. I try to do it with a smile on my face and enjoy it, because it doesn't last forever and I'll soon be retired. So I've got to enjoy being in the media, growing the game and being England captain, which is something I'm really proud of. Wane wants higher Super League intensity to prepare England for Ashes We need some Ashes glory in colour, says England's Wane Australia to tour England for first time since 2003 Being in Wane's world We had a meeting as an England group at a hotel near Manchester recently. I really enjoy the England camps. Any time we can get together is good. There were a couple of new faces in there as well, a reward for players that are doing well. It's nice to meet the new lads but also to catch up with the connections you've made over the past few years - I've got some good friends from other teams that you don't see too often unless you play against them. The main purpose of the meeting was for Shaun to get his message across to us all, and point out a few things. It was very Shaun Wane-esque in that mind, the way he delivered it. Weirdly, I'm used to it because I've had him as a coach for a very long time, from my Wigan days and now as England coach. He even says in the meetings that a lot of us will have heard this before - but he knows what he wants from his players. He doesn't go away from that. He knows what works. He's been very successful for a reason. So there were some home truths. Some of the lads already know what they need to do better but it's not nice to see it there in the room; people missing tackles or doing things he doesn't value within a team. It's not personal. He's not having a go at the individual. It's the bigger picture. He is showing us what is not acceptable - and if we continue to do those things, we won't be in the team. It's a tough school. To represent England, you've got to be at your best and that goes for all of us. Whether you're first time in or one of the seniors, there are certain standards you have to reach and he won't go away from them, so everyone knows what he expects. There are no grey areas. Sometimes you won't like what he's saying but you know where you stand. I definitely value it. It's something I took away from playing for Shaun - driving up standards. Origin a good barometer for Ashes test From the Australia side there has been a few things mentioned about what they will do now Mal Meninga has stepped down, but we saw what they could be capable of in State of Origin. I always watch Origin. It's a massive part of the game down in Australia. And a lot of those players will transfer to the Australia team. As much as I do enjoy watching it, it's a little bit of homework as well. I'm sure they'll find someone to fill the coach role. They're the best - and have been a long time - so we're expecting the best of them. They're the number one and we're looking forward to challenging ourselves against them. We're looking to win - there's no doubt about it. 'Opportunities I have to listen to' Right now there's a lot of negotiating going on and logistics surrounding my future beyond 2025, so I'm leaving it up to my agent. I've had some great, respectful conversations with Warrington - everything's above board and there are no bad feelings between anyone involved. I'd be stupid not to listen to a great opportunity from the Australian NRL and I think the club understand that. I've stressed to them it's not the case that I hate it here and I'm wanting out - but some things arise in life and I'd hate to have any regrets. We'll have some good, honest conversations and see what will happen. Get in the 'six', anyone's game We've won three in a row at Warrington now and given ourselves a chance to get back into the Super League's top six. The win over Catalans down in Perpignan was a tough one, and the weather was mad. First of all we were happy to get in and out of there with a win, but it was 30C and cracking the flags on the Thursday and Friday we were there - and then come game day on the Saturday, it decided to have a storm for five or six hours. It wasn't ideal. It was hot, muggy and the ball was slippy as anything. We didn't play well either, but I'd rather play rubbish and win than play well and lose. We've had a rollercoaster of a year. We've lacked consistency but now we've a great chance to keep our season alive. Get in the six, and it's anybody's game. If we beat Castleford at the weekend, it's four from four. We have to go into work with a smile on our face and work hard. Feeling sad won't do anything. We want to be better.
