Giants Host BARA Exhibition Celebrating Community Heritage in Rugby

Huddersfield Giants were proud to host the British Asian Rugby Association (BARA) exhibition, “Beyond the Try Line – Celebrating Community Heritage in Rugby”, ahead of Saturday’s fixture.

The exhibition, delivered in partnership with BARA and supported by The National Lottery Heritage Fund, provided supporters and the wider community with an opportunity to explore and celebrate the rich and often underrepresented history of South Asian contributions to rugby league.

Fans engaged with powerful stories, personal journeys, and historical insight, highlighting the impact and legacy of players, communities, and pioneers within the game. Former players were also in attendance and on hand to share their own experiences, offering a unique and personal insight into the history and evolution of the sport.

Former Giants player and BARA founder, Dr Ikram Butt, said:

“It was a proud moment to bring the exhibition to Huddersfield Giants, a club with such a strong connection to the history of the game. The feedback from supporters has been extremely positive, and our survey responses highlighted how much people valued learning about this important history. We are incredibly grateful to everyone at the club for their support in making this possible, and it’s important that we continue to share these stories to inspire future generations.”

Lee Stanley of the Huddersfield Giants Supporters Association, who interviewed Dr Ikram Butt and Junaid Malik as part of the event, added:

“It was fantastic to be involved in showcasing such an important exhibition. Hearing directly from Ikram and Junaid about their journeys and the wider history of South Asian involvement in rugby league was both insightful and inspiring. It’s something our supporters really connected with.”

Managing Director Richard Thewlis said:

“We were delighted to host the BARA exhibition at the club. It reflects our ongoing commitment to engaging with our community and celebrating the diversity of our supporters. The exhibition was extremely well received and we are proud to support initiatives that highlight the rich heritage of our game.”

The event reflects the club’s continued commitment to inclusion, community engagement, and creating meaningful opportunities for supporters to connect with the game beyond the field.

As the birthplace of rugby league, Huddersfield continues to play a central role in both preserving the sport’s heritage and shaping its future through initiatives that reflect the communities it represents.

The occasion was further rounded off on the field, with the Giants securing a victory over York to make it back-to-back wins for the club.

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