Eddie Hemmings (rugby league)
Eddie Hemmings is an English rugby league commentator who currently presents Sky Sports rugby league coverage, and is also the channel's main commentator for the sport. Hailing from Warrington, Cheshire, England, Hemmings is usually partnered by co-commentator Mike Stephenson.[1][2]
Early career
Hemmings began his career on the now defunct Liverpool Weekly News, before moving to BBC Radio Merseyside, where he became sports editor, proceeding to become a sports reporter/commentator on BBC Radio 2 in the 1980s. Hemmings and Stephenson actually first met up for commentary duties at the station; Stephenson was invited to be Hemmings' summariser during Great Britain's tour of Australia in 1988.
Television career
Hemmings joined satellite broadcaster BSB as the anchorman/commentator for its rugby league coverage at the network's launch in 1990. Stephenson was brought in to be Hemmings' regular sidekick. The pairing were kept together when BSB and Sky Television merged to form BSkyB; the combined satellite TV network inherited BSB's rugby league TV contract.
Hemmings is still the main caller for nearly all live Super League matches broadcast on Sky Sports; he commentates on the two matches broadcast live each week, plus all the play-offs and Grand Final matches.
Influence
On 13 February 2009, commentating on a St Helens and Warrington match, Hemmings called for the names and numbers on the back of the Warrington away jersey to be changed as he found it hard to read. Warrington recognised this and two weeks later, in a match between Wakefield Trinity and Warrington, Warrington altered their away jersey through having a white background behind the numbers.
References
- ↑ Stephenson, Mike. Stevo: Looking Back. Vertical Editions. p. 9. ISBN 978-1-904091-30-1.
- ↑ Wilson, Andy (21 January 2014). "Super League shake-up is good news but TV love affair needs reigniting". theguardian.com. Retrieved 24 March 2015.