Greenberg and Beattie pay respects at UK Armistice Day service

NRL chief executive Todd Greenberg and ARL chairman Peter Beattie joined officials from other rugby league-playing nations to mark the Centenary of the Armistice to end World War I in England.

Greenberg and Beattie, who had been attending the RLIF Congress and AGM, attended a special Armistice Day thanksgiving and commemoration service at the historic York Minster before travelling to Elland Road in Leeds for the third Test between England and New Zealand.

NZRL chairman Reon Edwards and CEO Greg Peters also attended the service, along with RLIF chief executive Nigel Wood, Southern Hemisphere GM Jeremy Edwards, outgoing chairman John Grant and officials from other countries.

England players also paid tribute to their 69 countrymen who lost their lives in World War I at a service in Leeds ahead of the Test.

A special commemorative poppy jersey was designed for the England players to wear in the Test, and the teams were led on to the field by acting serviceman before the laying of a wreath and the playing of the Last Post.

Wales players also paid respect to those who lost their lives in war by falling silent before kick-off in their World Cup qualifying match against Ireland at Wrexham.

League historian Terry Williams produced a documentary entitled Headgear to Helmets - Rugby League in Australia during World War I, which can be seen on NRL.com.