UK's Next PM Vows to Boost Rugby League, Shares Passion with Albanese

Andy Burnham, the former mayor of Greater Manchester and Labour leadership contender, has vowed to boost the popularity of rugby league in the UK, echoing the passion shared by his Australian counterpart, Anthony Albanese. Burnham, who was the president of the Rugby Football League a decade ago, made the comments at a major rugby league championship on the weekend.

The links between the Australian and English competitions go back decades. Australian players have often spent time in UK teams, and one – AJ Brimson of the Gold Coast Titans – even played for England in the Ashes series against Australia last year. Burnham supports the Leigh Leopards, based in a town west of Manchester and close to Makerfield, the electorate he won last month to return to the House of Commons and seek the leadership.

Burnham, a fan since the 1980s, is an honorary vice president of the Leigh team. Another team, the Wigan Warriors, is based nearby. Another key Labour figure in parliament, Lindsay Hoyle, the speaker of the House of Commons, supports the Warrington Wolves. Burnham told Sky Sports, 'I think this sport does need more – it’s a brilliant spectacle.'

He added, 'Where is rugby league’s recognition more broadly? Where’s the investment in the grassroots facilities? We’ve got amazing infrastructure in the Wigan Borough, but they do a lot of it themselves, and I’d like to see more backing for the sport at every single level.' Burnham has made no secret of his plan to seek the Labour leadership and replace Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who announced on June 22 he would resign.

Nominations for the leadership open on July 9 and no other contender has emerged, putting Burnham on track to be prime minister soon after nominations close on July 16. Burnham's support for the sport may also be influenced by his role as an Everton supporter, which he was discussing during the championship at the Hill Dickinson Stadium, the home of the Premier League football team Everton. He strayed into controversial territory by suggesting football fans should be allowed to enjoy their beers in their seats while watching a game, just as rugby league fans can.

'I’ve only got one question though about this day today,' he said in a social media post on Sunday, noting the fans having a drink during the game. 'How come these lads can do that in my seat here when we can’t do that at an Everton home game? There’s something wrong there, we need to take a look at that.' Drinking alcohol in a seat at the football has been banned since 1985 under UK law to curb football hooligans.

Burnham’s apparent plan to look at the law comes at a time when he is conducting few interviews and making no major policy statements other than his broad pledge to give more power to the regions and set up a 'Number 10 North' to operate some of the prime minister’s office from Manchester.