Rugby League Coaching Manuals

Within the centre are displays of memorabilia, including rare shirts, medals, caps, programmes and photographs.

There is also footage played on several plasma screens.

The British Rugby League Hall Of Fame is now also located there.

Colin Hutton moved from Widnes to Hull in 1951 and played 262 times for the black and whites before retiring in 1957.

He said: "It is a great honour. I always wanted to play and be involved in rugby league and if someone had told me this was to be my life then I would never have believed them.

"I was an average player, but I was determined to make something in the game and I think persistence and determination got me through.

"The other good thing about it is I have known Johnny for 59 years and we played together for six years at Hull.

"I came from Widnes to Hull and it was the best move I made in my life."

Both players were given framed collages of their playing days and one of each also now hangs in the Heritage Centre.

Johnny Whiteley played 15 seasons at Hull FC, making 417 appearances.

He captained the black and whites from 1956 and became player/coach in 1963.

He was also a member of three World Cup winning squads and coached the British Lions to victory in Australia in 1970, the last time Great Britain won the Ashes.

Ken Arthurson, former chairman of the New South Wales Rugby League and the Australian Rugby League, sent his congratulations to the pair.

He said: "I am delighted Johnny and Colin have received this well-deserved recognition.

"Both men are true legends who have made an enormous contribution to the sport of rugby league in England and Australia.

"The last time England won the Ashes was in 1970 and Johnny was the coach, and the time before, in 1962, Colin was the coach."