We are delighted to confirm Club legend, James Lomas will be inducted into the Rugby League Hall of Fame.
The RFL and Rugby League Cares have confirmed an icon of the sport will join the games’ most prestigious and exclusive club next month.
He will be inducted at a gala dinner hosted by RL Cares at The Edge, Wigan, on Tuesday, October 22nd.
The dinner will also see four other players deemed to be the best of the best in the long and proud history of Rugby League be inducted into the game’s pantheon of greatness: full details will be announced soon.
James ‘Jimmy’ Lomas was one of the brightest talents in the years following the birth of the Northern Union in 1895. In a stellar 24-year career at centre or on the wing with Bramley, Salford, Oldham and York, Lomas made 535 senior appearances, scoring 304 tries and kicking exactly 700 goals.
A proud son of Maryport, Cumbria, Lomas twice broke the sport’s transfer record when he joined Salford from Bramley for £100 in 1901 and 10 years later moved to Oldham for a fee of £300.
Making his debut against Leigh in September 1901, Lomas went onto make 304 appearances for Salford in his nine full seasons and eight appearances upon his return in 1922.
He scored an incredible 208 tries and kicked 464 goals during his first stint – the club’s leading try scorer, goalscorer and points scorer at the time.
Lomas broke record after record during his time with the Reds and wrote his name in the history books forever.
He played in the sport’s first-ever international game, Northern Union vs Other Nationalities at Wigan in 1904, and became RL Lion Number 1 when he captained the first tour of the southern hemisphere in 1910. Lomas also captained the Northern Union twice against the 1911-12 Kangaroo tourists.
His 39 points for Salford in a match against Liverpool City in 1907 remains a club record.
Managing Director, Paul King has said: “We are absolutely delighted to hear that James Lomas is to be inducted into the RL Hall of Fame and becomes Salford’s 3rd entrant alongside Gus Risman and David Watkins.
“It feels entirely appropriate that Lions heritage number RL1 should be incorporated into this prestigious group of the games finest exponents.
“James brought a great deal of pride and honour to the city of Salford during his playing career and even now, over 100 years after his last game, his name is still synonymous with our club and his achievements well know throughout the fanbase.
“The club will once again celebrate the achievements of James Lomas and look forward to another special evening with James at the heart of it.”
It has also been confirmed St Helens icon, Alan Prescott – made 404 appearances for the three-time World Champions – will join Lomas as the 37th inductee.
RFL Chief Executive Tony Sutton has added: “We are proud and privileged to be able to acknowledge the important contributions made by the greatest players the game has ever seen.
“James Lomas and Alan Prescott are worthy entrants into the RL Hall of Fame, two players whose talent, dedication and achievements set the standard both in the eras in which they played and for all who followed them.
“We are also looking forward to revealing the names of the other new inductees next week, when more Rugby League legends will take their rightful place in the RL Hall of Fame.”
Tickets for the RL Hall of Fame dinner at The Edge, Wigan, on Tuesday October 22 are available at the special early-bird price of £60 per person before September 20. To book, or for information, please email events@rlcares.org.uk
