Jamie Peacock (on the left) talks to sports journalism students at a press conference at Leeds Trinity University
By Jack Simpson
Former England Rugby League captain Jamie Peacock has told an audience of sports journalism students about his plans to inspire a generation in Yorkshire.
During an exclusive press conference for Leeds Trinity University, the ex-Leeds Rhinos stalwart announced that the event will be on campus in Horsforth on March 23 2017. It will bring together speakers from inside the world of rugby and beyond, discussing their experiences, what motivates them and what makes them successful.
One of the guests will be the inspirational ex-soldier Andy Reid, who fought in Afghanistan and is a tripple amputee. Reid served in the 3rd battalion the Yorkshire Regiment as a corporal, before he unfortunately stepped on an explosive device.
Peacock said: “You always find that if you’ve been able to see someone who is a motivational speaker, then you come away and think, do you know what that’s brilliant.”
Other speakers confirmed for the event include businessman Richard Norman, who set up Brand Yorkshire, and fellow England and Leeds Rhinos teammate Jamie Jones-Buchanan.
During the presser, Peacock addressed issues surrounding the struggles of the Leeds Rhinos as well as his former club, the Bradford Bulls. Peacock said of the Odsal outfit: “As an ex player it’s disappointing to see a club that’s won three World Club Challenges go into administration three times.
“There is a club waiting to come out of there if someone wants to run it properly, there’s the support base there, there’s a commercial activity there to properly run the club, it’s just been badly run for a while.”
Peacock also spoke about future of the Bulls: “I would really like them to come back, for someone to put some money because they are a Super League club and they don’t deserve to be in the Championship.”