A TOURING exhibition onthe world’s oldest open rugby union club has been opened in St Helens at Parr Library.

The exhibition was launched to detail the development and history of 160 year old club  Liverpool St Helens FC  by ‘old boy’ and rugby legend Ray French.

The Birth of Club Rugby focuses on telling the story of the formation,development, trials, tribulations and triumphs of Liverpool St Helens over itslong history.

Ray a former England rugby union and league international said: "The history of the Liverpool and St Helens clubs is full of rich stories, all nowsaved for posterity in our archive.

“The exhibition brings to life this history and we are now pleased to make it available for the peopleof St Helens and Liverpool.

"The exhibition was a collaboration between St Helens and Liverpool libraries, St Helens College, Edge Hill University, the Liverpool Record Office and Cowley International College.

"The club itself has established a comprehensive archive, cataloguing and preserving documents andphotographs and created a touring exhibition, which will be displayed inseveral of the borough’s libraries from now until May. 

"In addition, a learning resource pack has also been created for primary school pupils.

St Helens Council’s cabinet member for leisure services and libraries, Councillor Sue Murphy said: “Rugby is a massive part of the borough’s heritage so I’m delighted that such aninteresting exhibition like this will be on display in a number of our librariesfor the public to view.

“The Birth of Club Rugby exhibition promises to be an intriguing experience for anyrugby enthusiast and I would encourage anyone who may be interested to pay it a visit while it’s around.”

The mayor and mayoress of St Helens Cllr Joe Pearson and wife Sylvia joined club representatives, including the current Liverpool St Helens club president, Mr French, for the official launch.

The exhibition will remain at Parr Library until Friday, February23. 

The exhibition was awarded a grant of £75,700 by the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF). 

The Birth of Club Rugby exhibition will also be on display in the following St Helens libraries on thedates listed below:  

  • Rainford Library, February 26 to March 16;
  • Chester Lane Library, 19 March 19 to April 6; 
  • Newton-le-Willows Library: April 9 to April 27;
  • Eccleston Library: April 30 to May 25