John lands RL presidency

RUGBY League stalwart John Whaling has been named the sport’s new President - and one of his first jobs will be at Buckingham Palace.

John, from Thorpe Hesley, has been a key behind-the-scenes worker at Sheffield Eagles for over 20 years and has been given the ambassadorial role for his services to the sport.

He officially took charge on Wednesday and becomes the second person from the club to hold the prestigious office, with Kath Hetherington, the wife of Eagles founder Gary, having been president in the mid-1990s.

He said: “It’s an honorary position, given for services to the sport.

“It’s straight in at the deep end with a festival this weekend at Mount St. Mary’s in Sheffield, followed by the Queen’s Garden Party next Tuesday. I don’t know whether I’ll be taking her an Eagles shirt just yet."