The birthplace of rugby league closes

The birthplace of rugby league, the George Hotel in Huddersfield, has been shut down.

It means the future of the building, which also houses the rugby league museum, is in doubt, after owners decided to close the 60-bed hotel yesterday for the second time in nine months.

The Grade II listed hotel also closed last April, when the business changed hands.

Paul Whitfield, a director at business troubleshooters Licensed Solutions, said: “The owners of the George Hotel have been marketing the hotel for a number of months.

“Unfortunately, a sale has not been achieved and the hotel is forecast to continue to make losses.”

It was back on August 29th, 1895, that 21 northern rugby clubs held a meeting and by a majority of 20 to one voted to leave the Rugby Football Union to set up their own Northern Rugby Football Union, which became the Rugby Football League in 1922.