HOW great is Jon Wilkin? And do we support The Greatest Game?

Last Saturday I (Huddersfield Giants Supporters Association chairman Dave Calverley) attended Oxford University’s Annual RL celebrations.

The afternoon saw tag games with the teams containing a mixture of Old Boys, current team members, and girls from the University’s women’s RL branch.

This was followed by a full-blooded match between the Old Boys and the Varsity winners.

But it is the evening which will forever stay in my mind.

You might be surprised that such a Union-dominated university has a League team.

Not only that, but they are playing the expansive style of rugby that we are used to watching at the Giants.

Hearing the players talk, you would again be surprised about the code of rugby they are playing.

But when you listen to what they are saying, you then realise that you are amongst friends.

Guest speaker at the dinner was Jon Wilkin, the Saints star forward.

His tales had everyone rolling with both laughter and disbelief.

I would really like to recount some of them, but he swore us to secrecy!

Now comes the amazing part which alludes to TGG.

Jon is an accomplished after-dinner speaker, so he naturally was being paid.

However, in the bar afterwards he put a huge, and I mean huge, sum of money behind the bar for players’ drinks!

Here was a northern guy from Hull in the company of the prospective great and good and having a great time.

TGG with TGPI! The Greatest Game with The Greatest People Involved!

I hope you are proud to be one of them.

By the way, Jon has agreed to come and talk to HGSA, but I doubt whether he will recount some of the stories I heard that evening!

Next Tuesday (May 1), we shall have Paul Kilbride as our guest down at Turnbridge.

Paul came along last year and made a huge impression with his story.

He was a fit and active RL player until a freak accident left him wheelchair bound. Grit and determination ensured that Paul played RL again, this time in a wheelchair.

Whatever he talks about this time, he will move you.

A tremendous, moving evening can be guaranteed so let’s fill the room with members and guests.

For further information please visit our website – www.GiantsSupporters.co.uk – or contact Dave Calverley – 07887 878 425.