A former rugby league star has had his commemorative Super League Grand Final rings stolen during a break-in at his home.

Paul Newlove played for Featherstone, Bradford and Great Britain, and helped St Helens win three Super League finals in 1999, 2000 and 2002.

Burglars broke into Mr Newlove’s Eggborough home between 8.05am and 4.15pm on Friday, November 16, and took a number of small items of jewellery, also including his wedding band, his wife’s engagement ring, and items belonging to his daughter.

He said: “My son, Joe, came from from school at about 4.15pm and let himself in as always.

“The patio doors were broken and open and he realised what had happened, phoned his mum and me. We got home about half an hour later, and the house was just upside down.”

The intruders stole only jewellery, including a solitaire engagement ring, male wedding band and a necklace and the Super League rings.

Mr Newlove, who now works in a teaching role at Cathedral Academy, near Wakefield, said: “I’m gutted. Now I’ve retired from the game, there’s no way I’m going to be in that position to get any more so it’s definitely upsetting. You have to win to get the ring. You can’t buy them.

“I’m glad it happened when we were all out, not upstairs, because that would have been frightening for everyone. But if it had happened the rings were upstairs and the burglars might not have come up.

“We don’t know if we’ve been targeted, or if it was just opportunistic. You can replace engagement rings, but they’re not the same. There’s a sentimental value. You can’t put a price on that.”

North Yorkshire Police have given details of the items to businesses that trade cash for gold in an effort to help track the rings down.

Mr Newlove said: “If you have been offered them, you need to get in touch with the police.

“The person who has taken them, if they can post them back or just put them on the doorstep, they need to do the right thing and bring them back.”

A North Yorkshire Police spokesman said a 23-year-old man from the Goole area was arrested in connection with the incident on Saturday, and had since been released on bail while inquiries continue. The spokesman said none of the stolen items had yet been recovered.

Anyone with information about the incident should contact North Yorkshire Police on 101, quoting reference 12120193654.