Rugby League Archives - After Dinner Speakers & Comedians

Adrian Morley

Adrain Morley is a rugby league professional who has represented Great Briatin and England as an International prop forward. Having played for Leeds, Sydney, Bradford and Warrington, he has now joined his hometown of Salford for one season only in 2014.

As one of the most well-known names in rugby, Morley has now joined the after dinner circuit and is in high demand as a speaker too. His tale gives an insight into the world of rugby league and contains many humorous anecdotes of some of the most famous clubs. Do you really want to know what goes on…

Jamie Peacock MBE

Jamie Peacock MBE is considered to be one of the best players of his generation having won every honour in the domestic competition. A player of undoubted talent, who through his determination and commitment both on and off the pitch has been able to earn respect from not only his team mates but his opponents on both sides of the hemisphere and has twice been named as the best forward in the world.

An outstanding moment in Jamie’s career came in 2011, when Jamie made his return from a career threatening injury to help the Rhinos make history by becoming the only team to win the Grand Final from outside the top three, this was Jamie’s record-breaking 7th Grand Final win. He then captained England in the autumn Four-Nations tournament where they exceeded expectation and made the final, losing to Australia at Elland Road. To finish off another excellent year, Jamie was recognised in the New Years Honours List and was awarded a MBE for his services to the game.

Jamie is now as successful on the after dinner circuit as he was on the field. Jamie’s “No White Flag” motivational speech is both a fascinating insight into his career and an inspirational presentation on how to be the best, achieve your goals and to face fears, through hard work and ethic above talent.

Barrie McDermott

One of our most versatile Speakers who is inspiration, humorous and entertaining. A former rugby league prop-forward for Leeds Rhinos where he is now Head of Player Welfare after a successful stint as Head of Youth Development. Barrie played in 12 finals including Grand Finals Challenge Cup Finals and a World Club Challenge. He was the first player in Rhinos History to win League Leaders, Challenge Cup, World Club Challenge and the Super League. Barrie played 283 games for Leeds scoring 40 tries including 1 hat-trick.

A Great Britain international with 18 caps Barrie went on to represent Ireland at the 2000 Rugby League World Cup and went on to earn 15 caps over the years as well as being on the coaching staff for the 2008 World Cup.

With a glittering Rugby League career, playing over 400 games in 16 years for Oldham, Wigan, Leeds and Widnes scoring 56 tries in total – winning every domestic honor. Retiring in 2006 Barrie, with his good friend Terry O’Connor became a pundit and summerisers for Sky Sports Super League

His autobiography, Made for Rugby was published in 2004; it became the best selling RL book of all time. He has worked in every aspect of his sport at the highest level be it as a player or working with top performers as a coach or manager he has a story to tell. He has is one of the most respected and entertaining speakers on the circuit. After Dinner, Corporate Presenting or Hosting, Motivational or Business Speaking

Howard Nicholson

Formerly Senior project manager on the Sellafield Nuclear site and President of both Netherhall RUFC & the Cumbria athletics association. Obviously it is due to a computer error that he missed out when the honours list was released.

From humble beginnings of speaking at local sporting functions his presence quickly became much in demand at both sporting and corporate functions throughout the length and breadth of the country.

Equally at home in any environment, over the years he has graced top tables with celebrities such as Gordon Banks, Nobby Stiles, Willie John McBride and John Conteh to name but a few from the world of sport, and has regaled audiences from the corporate sector with his inimitable style of wit and humour.

Specialising in personalisation and tailoring his material perfectly to suit the occasion, customer satisfaction has been substantiated by the number of times that he has been immediately re engaged for future functions.

A successful athlete of international standard, in a previous life he was the British Professional half mile champion, he won the prestigious Powderhall New years day athletics meeting and has the distinction of being a member of the exclusive sub Four minute milers club.

A non celebrity speaker with many years of experience he has simply learned the art of addressing and relating to his audience by sheer experience.

Pete Emmett

Pete burst onto the comedy scene in 2007 and his unique humour has seen him make rapid strides on the circuit.

This much in demand comedian has already worked alongside the likes of Johnny Vegas, Mike Tyson, Jonny Bairstow, Phil Tuffnell, Thomas Bjorn, Bruce Dickinson, Tony Bellow, Paul Gascoigne, David Gower, Dame Kelly Holmes and Sugar Ray Leonard.

Whilst a fantastic comedian, Pete has excelled in the role of host comedian – establishing himself as one of the UK’s most in demand comic hosts, where his skills ensure he does a professional job to time and brief, keeps things light hearted where appropriate using comedy or quips when necessary, uses his natural warmth as a superb auctioneer. Despite having interviewed countless sports stars, he is equally at home with television stars and business leaders. A stickler for detail ,he will often spend hours in background research on the guest.

He is now the corporate host at Liverpool FC – the owners and shareholders private box, plus holds a similar role at both Everton FC and St Helens RLFC.

Whatever your requirements, you can be certain that Pete will adapt to your brief and provide exactly what you are expecting.

Lea Roberts

In 2002 Lea won the ITV comedy talent contest “Stand Up Britain” taking the regional heat and then winning the national final hands down, live on TV. Event host Ed Byrne had already acknowledged Lea was the outright winner long before half the regional votes had been received – such was his popular appeal.Lea’s comedy is based on traditional Northern humour, appealing to audiences from young to not so young ! and is one of the few comedians around today with the ability to appeal in either the mainstream or “alternative” domain. He likens his style and personality to Peter Kay – something Dave Spikey was quick to point out when working alongside him.

An attainment in professional Rugby League makes Lea an obvious choice for sporting functions, but this background has also helped to make Lea a “well known” and popular choice on the after dinner circuit throughout the UK

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