RFL confirm 2 Rugby League Hall of Fame inductees

The RFL have confirmed two new inductees to the Rugby League Hall of Fame with the pair set to receive the honour later this year.

The two men to be bestowed the honour of joining the Rugby League Hall of Fame are James Lomas and Alan Prescott and they will be adorned into the Hall of Fame at a gala dinner in October.

They will be two of four new names with the next two players to be named on Monday. The inductions were announced by the RFL who released a brief statement.

It read: “The Rugby Football League and Rugby League Cares are delighted to announce the first two inductees for 2024 into the sport’s most prestigious and exclusive club, the Rugby League Hall of Fame.

“James Lomas and Alan Prescott will receive the greatest honour that Rugby League can bestow when they are inducted into the RL Hall of Fame at a gala dinner hosted by RL Cares at The Edge, Wigan, on Tuesday October 22.

“The dinner will also see four other players deemed to be the best of the best in the long and proud history of Rugby League inducted into the game’s pantheon of greatness: their names will be revealed next week.”

Who are the Rugby League Hall of Fame’s newest members?

James Lomas was one of the stars of rugby league after the birth of the Northern Union in 1895. He would go on to make 535 career appearances, in which he scored a whopping 304 tries and kicked 700 goals.

Under the modern-day scoring rules, that would amount to a points tally of 2,616. The centre / winger spent his career with Bramley, Salford, Oldham and York.

He also is famous for breaking the transfer record twice, moving from Bramley to Salford for a fee of £100 in 1901, before then moving to Oldham for £300 ten years later. Moreover, he played in the sport’s first-ever international.

James Lomas passed away aged 80 in 1960.

Alan Prescott is a St Helens legend, making 404 appearances for the club between 1949 and 1960, mainly at prop despite beginning his career as a winger.

During his career, he also made 39 international appearances and captained Great Brtain on ten occasions including in the infamous 1958 test against Australia during which he moved into the halves and played through a broken arm to guide Britain to the win.

Alan Prescott passed away aged 71 in 1988.

What RFL Chief Executive said about new inductees

RFL Chief Executive Tony Sutton said: “We are proud and privileged to be able to acknowledge the important contributions made by the greatest players the sport has ever seen.

“James Lomas and Alan Prescott are worthy entrants into the RL Hall of Fame, two players whose talent, dedication and achievements set the standard both in the eras in which they played and for all who followed them.

“We are also looking forward to revealing the names of the other new inductees next week, when more Rugby League legends will take their rightful place in the RL Hall of Fame.”

The duo will become the 36th and 37th players to be elevated to the Rugby League Hall of Fame.