WHEN Skolars host Wigan in Friday’s annual Capital Challenge in the City Of London, some royal rugby league blood will be on show with the grandson of Queensland legend Duncan Hall playing his first professional match.
Elliot Hall, 20, turned out in the Student World Cup for England last year and has signed a one-year contract with Skolars. He has only been playing for three years in the sport where his grandad played 24 times for the Maroons and 22 times for Australia between 1948 and 1955.
Duncan Hall’s youngest son Lindsay left Australia 20 years ago but now the family has been reunited with the game that made the Team Of The Century prop famous.
“Obviously it’s been a big part of my life, knowing what a big name my grandfather was back in the day,” Elliot told rugbyleaguehub.com.
“It is having rugby league in the DNA, in the blood, and I’m looking forward to having a go at the game at this level. I played in a practice match against London Broncos last weekend but this will be my first competitive game for Skolars.
“I was at Loughborough University but I have a placement in the Surrey area this year so that is handy.”
Elliot’s parents Lindsay and Kathy will be on hand to see his big moment. He said he had no idea who he would be facing, with Wigan traditionally using a sprinkling of first teamers amid a mainly under 19 side for the Capital Challenge.
Hall died in 2011, aged 86. One of Lindsay’s brothers, Duncan junior, played 15 Tests for the Wallabies.
Smack bang in the middle of London’s financial distract and bordered on two sides by offices, the Honourable Artillery Company grounds is rated among the most expensive real estate occupied by a sporting field in the world.
It’s the chance of semi-professional Skolars to connect with the business community, corporates taking half a Friday off to attend the match and its preceding luncheon.
