Arsenal and England legend Tony Adams makes Rugby League switch – because he’s BORED of football
TONY ADAMS says his link up with rugby league is not as strange as it seems because he is “bored” of football.
The Arsenal legend, 52, is now the president of the Rugby Football League, which on the face of it seems as unlikely a connection as you can get.
But Adams has been involved with the 13-a-side code since 2011 and working with players through his Sporting Chance charity means his role makes “perfect sense”.
Especially given what he has seen on a football pitch recently.
He said: “Some of the games I’ve been to, I’ve been bored out of my brains.
“My experience in rugby league dates back to 2011. Tony Smith at Warrington asked me to talk to their boys just before the Challenge Cup final.
“The charity then got involved with the RFL and over the last few years we’ve had a fantastic partnership.
“It was a natural, thing to take up. We need that safehouse, it made perfect sense for me to get involved.
“If this Southern softie can get the message out that it’s OK to ask for help, then I’ve achieved what I set out to do.”
Adams replaced the mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham as president, which is a largely ceremonial role.
However, he has grown to love rugby league and would not rule out pulling his boots on for a game.
most read in rugby
And his former England team-mate Stuart Pearce - a huge Warrington fan - is also up for the idea.
Adams added: “Stuart loves it to bits. I’m warming to the idea of getting footballers to play against rugby league players.
“We’d have to play football in the first half because I don’t think we’re going to survive if we play rugby league first.”