Olympic boxer Luke Campbell.

What a sad state our game is in when we can't even attract government ministers any more. At one time we got members of the royal family or major public figures.

Nothing against Luke Campbell, but it doesn't say much about the status of our game (or the ability of the RFL to organise an inebriation session in a brewery).

Who?

I don't think its about the status of the game. Its the RFL's inability to organise. Things like this should have sorted and announced well in advance of the final. That would at least give a sense of organisation rather than the apparent last minute nature the RFL seem to have.

You would have thought that with Brian Barwick as chairman, he might have some decent contacts

Some really big rugby league fan who won a Olympic gold medal.

Olympic gold medal winning boxer, who is from Hull.

It's only been a year, I'd say a gold medal winning Olympian still counts as a major public figure?

Right...

Because government ministers are [ireally[/i popular with the public these days.

My thoughts exactly!

Could you imagine Cameron standing there?

God forbid!! Mr. photo opportunist.

It should be a past great from whichever side wins the cup that hands over the trophy.IMO.

Surely that would be Mr Terry getting in on the act

We are talking "fame factor" here and I am afraid that Luke Campbell doesn't have a huge amount of it.

I don't want a govt minister but said we don't even get them any more (even though they normally wouldn't miss a chance) - so just how low does our big event rate in people's eyes ?

If we have to have an olympian then why not a better-known one, Jessica Ennis for example.

Sorry, but could you see Luke Campbell being famous enough to present the FA Cup ? No way.

I agree this does reflect on the sad state of the game these days. Unfortunately, the CC is no longer the prestigious competition it once was. Super League era ideology over the past 17 years has consistently pecked away at the integrity of the CC in order to deliberately downplay it's importance... Sky being one the biggest culprits as they see it as an unwelcome distraction to their Super League competition.

The RFL have dutifully taken the hint from their paymasters of Super League as the marketing of the CC during the SL-era may be considered dismal at best. They'd rather channel their limited marketing skills and resources into meaningless events like Magic Weekend. When the governing body of the sport treats the CC quite so dismissively and downplays it's importance to the extent it has done since 1995, it is guaranteed that others shall follow suit.

He's a big RL fan.

Surely there's a bigger name we could have got than some boxer who hardly anyone has ever heard of ?

plenty of high profile RL fans so we keep getting told !

was a story going round that bradley wiggins was also asked to be guest of honour along with campbell (wigan and hull supporters respectively) but turned it down as he's focused on training for the world champs, even though he'll be at wembley

Russell Crowe or Mickey Rourke might have been better for profile raising

Is this a wind up? You'd prefer a government minister?

The ability of the RL fan to moan about the most minor of points is astonishing. Oh for the days of Thatch handing it over...

[uPrevious Challenge Cup presenters... pre Super League era[/u
The Queen
The Queen Mother
King George VI
Duke of Edinburgh
Prince of Wales
Princess Royal
Duke of Kent
Duke of Gloucester
Duke of Norfolk
Princess Alexandra
Earl Mountbatten
Lord Gormley
Lord Daresbury
Lord Lonsdale
Lord Derby
Earl of Derby
Maggie Thatcher, PM
Harold Wilson, PM
John Major PM
Anthony Eden, PM
Clement Attlee, PM
Rt Hon David Howell MP
Rt Hon Reginald Maudling Home Secretary
Viscount Montgomery of Alamein
Donald Bradman

A real connection with the game and public there.

That's one way of brushing the devaluation of the Challenge Cup under the carpet.

You ought to apply for a job at the RFL.

Bradley Wiggins?

Doesn't Britain have a sports minister?

Quote ="JB Down Under"Doesn't Britain have a sports minister?'" Yes, its Hugh Robertson MP www.hughrobertson.org.uk/

Quote ="JB Down Under"Doesn't Britain have a sports minister?'" Yes, its Hugh Robertson MP www.hughrobertson.org.uk/

Quote ="JB Down Under"Doesn't Britain have a sports minister?'" en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maria_Miller / en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hugh_Rober ... itician%29

Quote ="JB Down Under"Doesn't Britain have a sports minister?'" en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maria_Miller / en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hugh_Rober ... itician%29