BOLTON hosted a festival of Rugby League ahead of a global tournament that will leave a lasting sporting legacy.
Events were held across the borough as part of its Rugby League World Cup Host Impact Day.
More than 100 guests attended a special business breakfast at the University of Bolton Stadium to hear about the economic opportunities the tournament will create.
This was followed by a training session at Westhoughton High School where students were joined by platers from the professional game.
The day was rounded off with a session at Westhoughton Lions, who recently opened a new club house with the help of a £300,000 grant from the Rugby League World Cup (RLWC).
The University of Bolton Stadium will host the England v France game during the group stage of the men's tournament on October 22. The French team will also be making the borough their home during the competition.
Alongside this, a series of community events and initiatives will aim to grow the game's grass roots and leave Bolton with a tangible rugby league legacy.
Many of these projects were highlighted during the festival, with a schedule of events which included local schools, sports clubs, and some big names from the professional game.
Jon Dutton, the competition's chief executive, said: "It was a pleasure to speak about the real impact we have having in the local community through the significant capital grant awarded to Westhoughton Lions.
"There was a real feeling of enthusiasm and excitement for the forthcoming Rugby League World Cup."