THE TOWN’s rugby league heritage will be celebrated in an exhibition that kicks off on Thursday.

Rugby League Heritage On Tour will feature historic memorabilia including the match ball from Warrington’s triumphant victory in the legendary 1954 Challenge Cup Final replay – a game that attracted a then world record crowd of over 100,000 spectators.

The touring exhibition was organised by Rugby League Cares with the help of a lottery grant and visits the town as part of the Warrington Festival.

It will detail the story of the game’s split from rugby union and the banning of rugby league during World War Two, and will also feature a player’s shirt from the first ever test match and several items from Mike Stephenson’s personal collection.

The exhibition’s lead curator Victoria Dawson said: “This exhibition is different from other exhibitions that have gone before it because this tells not just the story of players and things that have happened on the pitch.

“As important as that is, rugby league is about more than just the product on the field.

“Rugby league’s history is the history of the people and this exhibition draws together the stories from the social and cultural history of the sport and incorporates brand new research so even the most ardent rugby league fan will learn something new.

“The fantastic thing about a touring exhibition is that it means more of the rugby league family get to share in the history of our beloved sport.”

The free exhibition will run from September 3-26 at the Pyramid Centre.