On the shoulders of giants – Paul Sykes breaks Gus Risman’s record with Dewsbury Rams appearance

If you judge the significance of Rugby League records by those who previously held them, Paul Sykes has earned himself an indelible place in the 130-year history of the sport.

Sykes, who will turn 44 in August and was a member of the England squad for the 2008 World Cup, made his first competitive appearance of the 2025 season for Dewsbury Rams in Sunday’s Betfred League One fixture against Rochdale Hornets.

As he made his debut for Bradford Bulls in 1999, that means Sykes has now played in 27 consecutive seasons – and according to the Rugby League Record Keepers Club, that’s a new record.

And the man who previously held that record is Gus Risman, the Welsh Rugby League great who was a founder member of the sport’s Hall of Fame, having come north to play for Salford in 1929, then moved to Cumbria after the War to make more than 300 appearances for Workington Town, leading them to Wembley victory over Featherstone Rovers in the 1952 Challenge Cup Final.

According to the RLRKC, Risman was the only man to have previously played in 26 consecutive seasons – a record even more remarkable as it straddled the War years.

So the spectators at Sunday’s Dewsbury-Rochdale clash saw a slice of history and a triumph of durability – all the more so considering the injuries Sykes has suffered during his career included a punctured lung.

Dewsbury Chairman, Mark Sawyer, and Ella Sawyer said:

''Paul has been part of the Dewsbury family for 10 years, and what an impact he’s had. His work ethic, passion, and wealth of experience make him an inspiration to everyone around him, especially our young players.

"He’s not just a player — he’s the heart of our club. We are incredibly proud and honoured to have someone as special as Paul with us."

The history-maker will hope to add plenty more appearances to his tally – already well over 500 – in the remainder of this season, starting with Dewsbury’s tricky trip to Whitehaven this Sunday.