GIANTS BRING COMMUNITIES TOGETHER AT THIRD COMMUNITY IFTAR

Huddersfield Giants brought together more than 100 people from different backgrounds, cultures and faiths at the Accu Stadium this week to share in a special community Iftar during the holy month of Ramadan.

The evening, now in its third year, celebrated togetherness, understanding and inclusion, reflecting the club’s commitment to engaging with the diverse communities that make up Kirklees and the wider region. 

Huddersfield Giants owner Ken Davy OBE and Managing Director Richard Thewlis attended the event alongside community leaders, families and supporters from across Huddersfield and beyond. 

The Giants were proud to become the first Super League club to host an Iftar, an initiative developed in partnership with the British Asian Rugby Association and community leaders. 

The evening included a short talk from Imam Mohammed of One Community, who explained the significance and values of Ramadan. Guests then observed the call to prayer before breaking their fast with traditional dates, followed by a shared meal. 

The club would like to thank Regal Bakery for their continued support in helping make the event possible. 

This time of year is also one of celebration for many communities. Alongside Ramadan, festivals such as the Hindu festival of Holi, the Sikh celebration of Vaisakhi and the Christian celebration of Easter are being marked or approaching. Events such as the Giants’ Iftar reflect the club’s commitment to bringing people together, celebrating diversity and strengthening community understanding.  

Huddersfield Giants Managing Director Richard Thewlis said: 

“Our third Iftar was again a great evening with a full room of more than 100 people from all walks of life at the Accu Stadium. We pride ourselves on being an open and inclusive club and events like this show our commitment to that. 

We were once again grateful for the support of BARA, the British Asian Rugby Association, and two of their driving forces Dr Ikram Butt and Junaid Malik. It was fantastic to welcome our local community to the stadium and we were privileged to have Imam Mohammed join us to help explain the significance of Ramadan before the fast was broken following the call to prayer. 

Rugby League has always been a community-based sport which is open and welcoming to all. Our club can be a powerful force within our local community, and it would be remiss not to mention the superb work our Club Ambassador Cllr Masood Ahmed does in introducing both the Giants and the sport of Rugby League to the South Asian community in Kirklees.” 

The evening once again demonstrated how sport can play an important role in bringing communities together and creating spaces where people from different backgrounds can connect, learn from one another and celebrate shared values.