St Helens great James Roby 'hugely humbled' by road honour

Rugby league great James Roby has said having a main road in his hometown named in his honour has left him "hugely humbled and proud".

St Helens Council said the St Helens Linkway, which connects the Merseyside town to the M62, will now be known as James Roby Way.

Roby won six Super League titles, four Challenge Cups, eight League Leaders' Shields, and two World Club titles in his 19-year career.

St Helens Borough Council leader David Baines said in deciding on a name for the road, the authority thought "who better than the greatest of all time?"

The former hooker and team captain, who joined the Saints coaching staff after retiring at the end of the 2023 season, spent his entire career at the club and is their all-time record appearance maker.

He said he had been "overwhelmed by the response of everyone following my final season in the Red Vee".

“I am hugely humbled and proud to receive such an accolade from my hometown," he said.

Thanking the council, he added that it was "something I will cherish for a long time into the future".

The St Helens Linkway will now be known as James Roby Way.

Mr David Baines said the club had been "part of the fabric of St Helens" for more than 150 years and it was "absolutely right that we recognise their importance in any way we can".

“In deciding on a name, who better than the greatest of all time?" he said.

“James is extremely humble, but his influence on St Helens as a place, the club and the game of rugby league deserves nothing but the highest praise."

Saints chairman Eamonn McManus said the move "constitutes due and permanent recognition of his unparalleled contribution to our club, our sport and our town".

“His achievements will never be matched and should never be forgotten," he added.

Alex Service, from the Saints Heritage Society, said Roby was "a local-born phenomenon", whose achievements in "one of the toughest contact sports" were "virtually beyond equal".