Cleanup begins after thousands gather for The Leopards homecoming
The Challenge Cup was paraded through Leigh yesterday
A cleanup is beginning today after thousands gathered to see Leigh Leopards arrive back from Wembley.
The team paraded through the town, having won the Challenge Cup for the first time in 52 years.
They beat Hull KR 17-16 in a thrilling victory on Saturday. The game went to golden point extra time, with a dropkick from Lachlan Lam securing the crucial winner.
The open top bus paraded through the town, starting in Astley, before making its way through Tyldesley, Atherton and then down Market Street into Leigh Town centre.
With the world's oldest rugby trophy in the cabinet and a top-four place in Super League seemingly secure, the Leopards head coach Adrian Lam has warned the game had better start getting used to its garish newcomers.
"I had a conversation with (owner) Derek (Beaumont) about it (the rebrand) and how people were going to take it, and it's snowballed to a point where I was having a coffee this morning and saw men wearing leopard skin tops and shirts," recalled Lam.
"It helps because we're winning but it's just gone viral across the whole town and maybe across the UK. It's caught on and I think it can go to so many different levels - where does it end?"
Lam's attention will now turn back to the league. The Leopards next take on current leaders Catalans Dragons on Saturday.