In a quite beautiful gesture, the 2021 Rugby League World Cup ball will be named after Welsh legend Clive Sullivan.
The official name will be 'Sully', which is testament to the impact the Cardiff-born man had on the sport.
After a 12-month delay, the tournament gets underway at St James' Park in Newcastle this weekend.
READ MORE: Cheslin Kolbe 'clone' scores try of the season contender to stun viewers
Born in Splott, Sullivan moved to the Midlands after joining the army. It was here that his talent was spotted, and where a glittering career ignited.
Sullivan became an icon in Yorkshire, he enjoyed incredible success - winning the Challenge Cup with Hull Kingston Rovers (1980) and Hull FC (1982).
The speedster's ability as a winger was breathtaking, he scored a colossal 118 tries for Hull KR and 250 tries for Hull FC.
Sullivan's career spanned further than the club game game, however. He represented Great Britain on 17 occasions and played 15 times for Wales.
The Welshman also became the first black player to captain Great Britain in any sport.
He sadly died of liver cancer on October 8th 1985 at the tender age of 42. A mere six months after he retired.
This isn't the first time Sullivan's memory has been permanently preserved, either. Hull FC and Hull KR have gone toe-to-toe in the Clive Sullivan Memorial Trophy since 2001, whilst the A63 road in and out of Hull was renamed Clive Sullivan Way following his death.
'The Sully Ball' will feature when England face Samoa in the opening game of the England World Cup, a fitting tribute to a legend of the game.
Read next:
-
New 19st teenage giant destroys British Lion and gets South Africans very excited
-
'Get him off!' Johnny Sexton livid as rival commits two red card offences inside a minute
-
England international knocks himself unconscious and is sent off for doing it
-
Prince William's England v Wales plea 'to keep Prince Harry quieter' emerges
-
'Best drop goal in rugby history' stuns commentators and over 1 million viewers
