Mal Reilly & Willie Horne to be inducted into Hall of Fame

Former Castleford and Great Britain star Mal Reilly, and former Barrow, Lancashire, England and Great Britain captain Willie Horne are to be inducted into the RFL Hall of Fame.

Horne played for England between 1945-1953 scoring 38 points in 14 games, in addition to representing Great Britain on eight occasions during the 1946-1952 seasons, scoring 20 points.

Malcolm Reilly’s playing career spanned three decades. One of the sport’s tougest ever players, he debuted for Castleford aged 19.

He went on to play for his home town club in two stints, first between 1967-71 and then between 1974-86 after returning from a successful stint in Australia with Manly.

“It is right and proper that these two outstanding players join the existing 21 greats within the Rugby League Hall of Fame,” said RFL chief executive Nigel Wood.

“As we approach an exciting new era with a new league structure for 2015, it is also important to celebrate our heritage and to recognise the players who have enriched our game through the years.”

The pair will be formally inducted at a dinner on Friday evening.

Rugby League Cares Chairman Terry Flanagan added: “Organising and hosting the Rugby League Hall of Fame Induction dinner is an exciting fixture in our calendar.

“We are extremely proud to the have the opportunity to celebrate our sport’s former players and the contribution they have made to the great game.

“The Hall of Fame dinner is always a fantastic occasion and we are grateful to Rugby League Cares for their continued support of this important initiative.”

The Rugby League Hall of Fame was established in 1988 to commemorate the greatest ever players in British Rugby League. The induction of Willie Horne and Malcolm Reilly takes the total number of players in the Hall of Fame to 23.