2012 news markramsdalerugbyworldcup

Downing Street welcomes the Rugby League World Cup in an visit organised by Cambridge Judge Business School alumnus

5 November 2012

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As part of the year-to-go celebrations for the England and Wales 2013 Rugby League World Cup, Mark Ramsdale, a Cambridge Judge Business …

As part of the year-to-go celebrations for the England and Wales 2013 Rugby League World Cup, Mark Ramsdale, a Cambridge Judge Business School MPhil alumnus and founder of MR Sport, which specialises in sports public affairs, organised a visit to Number 10 Downing Street for players and coaches to see the famous World Cup trophy.

The visit, which featured on the BBC as part of its broadcast of the England vs France autumn international, took place on Wednesday 31 October and gave not only the players and coaches, but children from the Brixton Bulls and South Croydon Hurricanes the opportunity to see the trophy and meet the Prime Minister, David Cameron. Representing England were Head Coach, Steve McNamara, and players, Eorl Crabtree and Dan Sarginson; they were joined by Wales’ Head Coach, Iestyn Harris, and players, Ben Flowers and Lloyd White.

Prior to the Downing Street visit, Mark had also arranged for the trophy to visit the Palace of Westminster, which gave the Parliamentary Rugby League Group the chance to talk to the organisers and discuss how preparations for the tournament were progressing.

As well as running MR Sport, Mark is Secretariat to the Parliamentary Rugby League Group and is supporting the RFL and Rugby League World Cup 2013 in the build up to the tournament. MR Sport has also recently been appointed by the Oxford and Cambridge University rugby league clubs to deliver the annual Rugby League Varsity Match. He commented:

When you think about it, there haven’t been that many world cups of any sport in the UK, so the fact that England and Wales are hosting the Rugby League World Cup 2013 so soon after the Olympics and Paralympics is terrific news.

So the UK can continue to be recognised as organising world-class events over the coming golden decade of sport, having the Prime Minister and other politicians engaged with the Rugby League World Cup are incredibly important. David Cameron was very keen to hear how things are moving forward and he was particularly interested in the game in London and outside the heartlands. He spent time talking with all the children from Brixton and Croydon, as well as talking about his own experiences playing rugby.”

Mark has 10 years’ experience as a public affairs and government relations practitioner in Whitehall and Westminster, including positions within Parliament, Royal Societies, and government bodies. He has a degree in mechanical engineering from Imperial College, an MPhil in technology policy from Cambridge Judge Business School, as well as a diploma in public relations.

He has worked for Members of Parliament, the Royal Academy of Engineering, the Learning and Skills Council and the Chartered Institute of PR. Mark is a Freeman of the Public Relations Guild, a Member of the PRCA and the PCG. He sits on the Council of the London Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Alumni Council of Cambridge Judge Business School.

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