How Hunslet star Steve Pryce's dream turned into World Cup reality for Jamaica rugby league

Jamaica’s history as an international team can be traced back to May 1997, when the Hunslet Hawks squad was heading back to south Leeds after losing to Hull KR in the Challenge Cup Plate final at Wembley.

Pryce, who was born in England of Jamaican parents, spent part of the journey speculating on who could represent a hypothetical Jamaica side.

He recalled: “Having thought up the idea - with names such as Roger Simpson, Sonny Nickle, Alan Hunte, Basil Richards and Craig Richards, plus me and my brother Geoff Pryce springing to mind - I began to turn the fantasy into fact.”

A West Indies team was pulled together to take part in the York Nines in the early 2000s, with Gateshead Thunder head coach Dean Thomas taking charge and Hunslet’s Roy Sampson acting as his assistant.

They won that tournament, also competed in the Middlesex Nines and faced York side New Earswick All Blacks in their first 13-a-side game, before defeating South Africa 50-22 in their maiden international at London Skolars in October, 2004.

Pryce was a member of the Jamaica team which then played USA in an international friendly in Jacksonville, Florida.

“That fixture really got Jamaica Rugby League going and the team went on to play Hunslet at the South Leeds Stadium, where we also trained,” he said.

“I was delighted when, as part of the development of Caribbean Rugby League, West Indies took on Hunslet in my benefit match in 2005.

“That was a fabulous day.

“It’s fantastic now to know that Jamaica will be in the city for the World Cup in October and November next year.

“I could never have imagined, on that trip back from Wembley in 1997 when the side was only a figment of my imagination, that a Jamaican team could have come so far so soon.”

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