HUNSLET will recognise trailblazing former player Gurdeep ‘Gurdi’ Ryatt when they host London Broncos on Sunday.
He made history during the 1978-79 season as the first British Asian in professional Rugby League.
The Sikh secondrower featured three times in October and November of that campaign, when then-New Hunslet, coached by former Great Britain forward Bill Ramsey, finished runners-up to Hull FC in the second tier, winning promotion with current club chairman Kenny Sykes among his teammates.
A recent guest at the south Leeds club’s popular breakfast club, he will return for the Broncos clash to be presented with a club heritage certificate, marking his appearances, contribution to the club and role in inspiring future players.
The breakfast club visit was arranged by another former Hunslet player, Ikram Butt, who was the first British Asian to represent England (on the wing in the 18-6 defeat by Wales at Cardiff in the 1994-95 European Championship).
It was part of the British Asian Rugby Association’s National Lottery Heritage Fund-supported project ‘Beyond the Tryline – Celebrating Community Heritage in Rugby’.
Delivered in collaboration with Hunslet, it aims to help preserve, recognise and celebrate the often untold stories and contributions of South Asian communities within rugby.
“The (breakfast club) event emphasised Hunslet’s proud and diverse heritage as a club who have historically broken barriers within Rugby League, including being home to Lucius Banks (a winger who appeared in 1912), who is recognised as the first black professional Rugby League player,” he said.
“Following Gurdeep’s pioneering contribution, other British Asian players to feature at Hunslet include myself and Amraz Hamid (a winger in the 2000s), reflecting the continuing contribution of South Asian communities within the sport.”
Hunslet president Peter Jarvis said: “Our breakfast club continues to epitomise what Rugby League is all about – community and friendships.”