• Harlequins captain named in squad to face Hull KR on Sunday • Purdham’s older brother, Garry, was one of 12 shooting victims The Harlequins captain, Rob Purdham, will make his return to rugby league in Sunday’s Super League match against Hull KR at Craven Park. The 30-year-old England international has been on compassionate leave since the death of his older brother Garry, who was among the 12 victims of taxi driver Derrick Bird in the Cumbria shooting tragedy earlier this month. The tough-tackling loose forward has missed Quins’ last two matches after returning to the family home near Whitehaven and was a pall-bearer at his brother’s funeral last week. Purdham resumed training with his club on Tuesday and has been included in a 19-man squad for Sunday’s game. The Rugby Football League has announced England will play a commemorative match against a Cumbria representative team at Whitehaven on 3 October to raise funds for the family of Garry Purdham. The 31-year-old former Whitehaven, Workington and Egremont player left a widow, Ros, and two young boys, Flynn and Cameron. Rob Purdham issued the following statement: “On behalf of all my family, I would like to thank all the fans, staff, players and the rugby league community as a whole for all their kind support in what has been a very difficult few weeks. We really appreciate everybody’s support and kind words.” Harlequins rugby league Cumbria shootings Super League Rugby league guardian.co.uk
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Rob Purdham returns to rugby after brother’s death in Cumbria shootings
