HUDDERSFIELD GIANTS have quashed claims they could change names following their move to Dewsbury.
Some have suggested they could become Kirklees Giants, reflecting the metropolitan borough and local government district which covers both the Accu Stadium in Huddersfield, which they have left after 32 years, and the FLAIR Stadium, which they have acquired and are upgrading to the tune of £10 million-plus.
Given that their Huddersfield title has existed since 1864 (with Barracudas added from 1984-1988 and Giants since 1996) and that the town was the birthplace of Rugby League in 1895, any name change would be hugely controversial.
But the club said: “We certainly don’t envisage a move away from Huddersfield Giants.
“With our office base and training facility at Laund Hill (in north-west Huddersfield), (owner) Ken Davy has said we should refer to Dewsbury as our stage, not home.”
The Giants have also invested heavily in improving the Laund Hill complex.
Despite a series of setbacks over potential sites, the club say they are committed to their stated long-term goal of constructing a new ground of around 8,000 capacity in the Huddersfield area.
Davy, who believes that size of venue is more suited to the Giants’ needs than the 24,000-plus capacity Accu, which is on the edge of the town centre, recently met Kirklees councillors to explore options.
Meanwhile the club plans to raise the capacity of the FLAIR Stadium from around 5,000 to 8,000-plus by building of a new stand at the currently-unused end of the ground.
“We would be prepared to leave (the FLAIR Stadium) for a better option, but it’s crucial to us that we provide a top-class Super League facility for supporters, commercial partners and players while at Dewsbury,” they explained.
