PRLG Chairman Shortlisted for Sport Parliamentarian of the Year

[Honor James]

Parliamentary Rugby League Group Chairman, Leeds North West MP Greg Mulholland, has been shortlisted for the Sports Parliamentarian of the Year award for the second year running. The winner will be announced at an awards ceremony at the Houses of Parliament on Tuesday 4th December. The award was established in 2011 to recognise the efforts of Members of both Houses of Parliament who work tirelessly with local people, clubs, organisations and governing bodies to promote and protect the interests of sport and recreation.

As well as Mulholland’s Chairmanship of the Parliamentary Rugby League Group, he is Vice President of the Leeds Rugby Foundation, a Vice President of BARLA, President of the Leeds Akkies as well as founder and club captain of rugby league team the Political Animals.

Mulholland has also been involved in other sports in Parliament over the year, as well as in his constituency, including the Commons and Lords football, rugby union, and cricket teams. He has championed local athletes such as World Champion and Olympic silver medal cyclist Lizzie Armitstead, the Brownlee brothers who won gold and bronze in Olympic Triathlon and ultra-distance runner Chris Carver, through the tabling of EDMs.

Mulholland assisted local sports clubs including Pool AFC which he helped source funding for new changing facilities and was the brains behind ‘Be Inspired, Get Involved’ initiative, which held its first fair at Lawnswood School in his constituency. The Be Inspired, Get Involved initiative has been devised to use the enthusiasm generated in 2012 to increase in involvement in grassroots, community sports – a key area for delivering benefits of sport for ordinary people and local communities – as part of delivering the London 2012 legacy locally.

Candidates were nominated by sport and recreation clubs, governing bodies and organisations.

On hearing of his shortlisting, Mulholland said, “It is a great honour to be nominated for the Sports Parliamentarian of the Year award for the second year running. It is fantastic to receive recognition for the work I have put in to support a number of sports, both locally and nationally. I am delighted to have once again been able to continue the work I have been doing with the Rugby League Group in Parliament, as well as continuing to support locals clubs and sports people, in what has been a memorable year for sport."

Niel Wood, Acting Communications Director at the RFL commented on the nomination, saying, “Greg is passionate about all sports, but particularly rugby league. We are fortunate to have a Member of Parliament with such a commitment to rugby league, in terms of being an advocate of the game in the Chamber of the House of Commons, promoting rugby league to Parliamentary colleagues, Chairing the Parliamentary Rugby League Group and playing the sport for the Political Animals and Leeds Akkies. “We are grateful to his commitment and are delighted to see he has once again been shortlisted for the prestigious honour of Sports Parliamentarian of the Year.”

Nigel Harrison, Chief Executive of West Yorkshire Sport, commenting on the Be Inspired, Get Involved initiative added his thoughts, "Greg created the concept of Be Inspired Get Involved, in a bid to ensure as many local people as possible get to know about the legacy opportunities available to them to take part in sport. He has been tireless in working with us and other local organisation to ensure the idea becomes reality. It is fantastic to see Greg being nominated for the Sports Parliamentarian of the year award."

PRMG Secretary

Mark Ramsdale