Wigan Album

Harry Sunderland (1889-1964) was a controversial rugby league administrator In his defence it’s said that he was often misunderstood, an Australian driven by a passion to take rugby league football to the world.
He was also variously described as “bumptious”, “irrepressible” and as a “little dictator” (by some Aussie players on tour) and in one famous observation “his eagerness to promote Rugby League was only equalled by his keenness to promote himself”
When you consider Harry never played the game it’s remarkable that he talked (and lobbied) his way onto the Aussie Tour to Great Britain in 1921 (as a reporter) and became Tour manager for a further three tours in the 1930’s, it’s small wonder he came to manage arguably the most famous of all Rugby Clubs at Wigan on a great contract.