Featured Image Credit: Ch4 / Stills Press / Alamy. @adamhillscomedy/Instagram.
Topics: Australia, Rugby League, NRL
Jayden Collins
Topics: Australia, Rugby League, NRL
Comedian and TV personality Adam Hills has been selected as part of the 40-man Australian squad for the Physical Disability Rugby League World Cup.
The squad is set to be reduced to 20 on August 14, so while his position isn’t guaranteed yet, he may well be on his way to England later this year for the tournament.
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Hills has been a pioneer for disability rugby league, born with no right foot himself, he helped found the UK’s first Physical Disability Rugby League (PDRL) team back in 2017 - the Warrington Wolves.
The legend has been part of the PDRL team since their inception, so there’s a likelihood he’ll come up against some of his English counterparts at the tournament.
On his selection into the squad, he tweeted: “Honoured to make the extended squad to represent Australia in the PDRL World Cup. Whether selected or not, I’ll do all I can to support the team.”
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If he isn’t selected surely Australia can get him on the sideline cracking jokes at his Warrington teammates’ expense.
Hills is a household name in both Australia and England where he has hosted Spick and Specks and The Last Leg.
Outside of TV and comedy, he’s an avid Rugby League fan and player, having played for the likes of Lancashire, NSW City, and his favoured South Sydney Rabbitohs.
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The Souths were keen to congratulate him on his call-up to the World Cup squad as well.
They tweeted: “Our first Rabbitoh has got the World Cup call up with international comedian and Rabbitoh tragic Adam Hills named to represent Australia at the Physical Disability Rugby League World Cup. Congrats mate!”
His Rabbitohs teammates turned to opponents a few years back when Hills travelled back to Australia to play that side in the Physical Disability World Club Challenge.
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His Wolves side won 34-12 on that occasion, and he won further accolades when his documentary about the matchup won an award in the Television/Digital Documentary category at the 2019 British Sports Journalism Awards.
Meanwhile, he was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2022 New Year Honours for his services to Paralympic sport and disability awareness.
Well deserved for the legend, let’s hope he makes the top 20 in the squad.
The tournament will kick off on October 23 with the final played on October 30.
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England, New Zealand, and Wales will be competing alongside Australia at the competition.