Rugby star to WSOP

Huddersfield Giants play the mighty St Helens in the final of the Rugby League Challenge Cup this weekend and Giants’ star Robbie Paul will be hoping to capitalise on recent poker success.

Paul put in a stellar performance in a Ladbrokes celebrity online poker tournament at the weekend. He placed second, beating over a thousand players and knocking out Rugby Union rivals Mike Tindall and Austin Healey into the bargain.

The New Zealand born player wins a dream ticket to the 2007 WSOP to compete in the the gruelling ten day $850m prize pool Main Event tournament, with Team Ladbrokes who this year took home a staggering $1.5m.

The weekend’s tournament was held in honour of six times World Champion snooker player Steve Davis who played in this year’s WSOP. Davis lasted three days and placed 579th out of a field of 9,000 international poker players, pocketing over $20,000 and is now widely regarded as one of the top UK players in the world.

David Briggs, Managing Director of Ladbrokes eGaming commented, "After Robbie Paul’s performance on Sunday evening where he annihilated the competition, I have no doubt of Pauls ability to help the Giants secure victory and take the Challenge Cup home this weekend."

He continued: "It definitely was a feather in Robbie’s cap to knock out Mike Tindall and Austin Healey. Robbie certainly proved he’s on the ball displaying nerves of steel, dexterity, determination and tenacity, skills that I am sure will translate well to Saturday’s match. I know that based on his poker play a number of the tournament players will have a cheeky bet on the Giants to win this weekend and will be rooting for him."

The former Bradford Bulls Captain said after his 2nd place finish: "I had a real ball playing in the tournament, it was great getting one over the union boys Austin Healey and Mike Tindall. I’m really looking forward to joining Team Ladbrokes at the WSOP next year."

"I really hope my luck continues against St Helens in the Challenge Cup final at Twickenham this Saturday and I hope all the players I played against and chatted to throughout the tournament will be cheering me on to challenge cup glory, thanks for a great evening of poker."

Sports promoter Barry Hearn, former Miss UK lovely and model Leilani Dowding, Sussex cricketer Ed Giddins and World Champion darts player Phil ‘The Power’ Taylor also participated in the tournament.