The Wetherby Whaler gave a keen rugby league fan a meal he won’t forget after winning a competition to dine with a Leeds Rhinos player.

Dedicated Rhinos fan, Martin Hopwood from Huddersfield, was invited to enjoy a meal with Rhinos legend, Rob Burrow, after entering a competition on the Wetherby Whaler website.

Rob and Martin, who has followed the team for more than twenty years from across two continents, were joined by wife Martin’s wife, Helen, and his four year-old son, Dominic, as they tucked into the Whaler’s traditional fish and chips at its Guiseley restaurant.

Martin said: "I was over the moon when I found out I’d won. It’s a great prize for a Rugby fan. Not only did I get to meet a player and give him a grilling, but I got to do so in a fantastic environment with proper Yorkshire food.

"I was at the Boxing Day Wetherby Whaler Festive Challenge match, which was when I found out about this competition. I’ve been to Wembley for the last two Challenge Cup wins and the Grand final win at Old Trafford in 2015. Rob’s one of my favourite players and it’s been a great chance to meet him and talk about the game, and life in general.”

Phillip Murphy, Director of the Wetherby Whaler, said "It’s brilliant to be able to give such a long serving fan of the club a prize like this. We’re very involved in sport at a professional and grassroots level across Yorkshire, so it’s fantastic to be able to bring it all together like this.

"Leeds Rhinos go to great efforts to make sure their atmosphere is family-friendly and to be involved in the local community. This is a spirit we at Wetherby Whaler share whole heartedly and it’s always a pleasure to work with the team there.

"Rob Burrow was fantastic, and visited us just off the back of completing the milestone of 500 career games – a great achievement in a tough sport

"This isn’t the first competition like this that we have done with the Leeds Rhinos and I hope it won’t be the last. Be on the lookout in our restaurants and across our social media to make sure you catch the next one.”