Paul becomes Northern Rail Cup ambassador
Northern Rail has appointed one of the legendary figures of modern Rugby League, Robbie Paul, to be their Northern Rail Cup Ambassador for 2010.
The 33-year-old New Zealand international, who is about to open a new chapter in his illustrious Rugby League career after joining Championship Club Leigh Centurions from Super League side Salford City Reds at the end of the 2009 campaign, has become the new public face of the Northern Rail Cup.
As ambassador, Robbie will play a central role in promoting the cup competition and his image will appear on the front cover of the Northern Rail Cup fixture leaflet and on posters at principal train stations from coast to coast across the North.
He will operate his own blog on the Northern Rail web site and make personal appearances for the train company.
Robbie, who played for Bradford Bulls, Huddersfield Giants and Salford City Reds before signing for the Centurions, said: “It is a real honour and privilege to become the Northern Rail Cup Ambassador.
“Northern Rail is at the very heart of Rugby League communities and under their stewardship the Northern Rail Cup has moved to new levels of excellence.
“I’m looking forward to working with the train company and their partners, the Rugby Football League, on a number of community projects during the season. I had the privilege of winning the Northern Rail Cup with Salford in 2008 and it was an amazing experience. Playing in the Final at Blackpool was a fantastic day out for the players and the fans.
“All the players from the eligible clubs want to win this competition. It gives them the opportunity to test themselves at the highest level of the semi-professional game and be a winner.
“Clubs like Leigh Centurions want to win silverware at what ever level they play and ambitious clubs realise that winning the Northern Rail Cup now has the added incentive of counting towards an application for a Super League licence.”
Paul, who has won 30 caps for his country and the Lance Todd Trophy in the 1996 Challenge Cup Final against St Helens when he became the first man to score a hat-trick of tries at Wembley, is also a keen rail traveller.
He added: “It can certainly take the stress out of driving on our overcrowded roads and since you can work on the train and I often have plenty to catch up on as a result of my studies at Huddersfield University.”
Jo North, Northern Rail Commercial Director said: “Robbie is a great communicator and his passion for Rugby League and its proud heritage makes him an ideal champion of Northern’s brand values.”