Rugby League Cares is delighted to announce Jim Mills as the latest rugby league legend to become an Official Ambassador of the charity.
Jim, 80, has kindly agreed to champion the charity and its important work supporting and enhancing the lives of people across all communities where the sport is played.
A former Wales and Great Britain player, Jim is one of rugby league’s great characters who commands respect from people across the sport, both for his playing prowess and his many activities away from the pitch, including his after-dinner speaking.
Jim was a director and chairman of Widnes for many years, including the period when the club signed the likes of Jonathan Davies, Martin Offiah and John Devereux from rugby union.
A proud Welshman, Jim was inducted into the Wales Sports Hall of Fame in 2023, having started his rugby journey with Cardiff before switching to league in 1965. He played for Halifax, Salford, Bradford, North Sydney Bears, Workington Town and Widnes, as well as gaining six caps for Great Britain.
“When Rugby League Cares asked me if I’d like to join them as an ambassador, I had no hesitation in saying yes,” said Jim. “It’s a great charity that does some wonderful work helping people of all ages and from all walks of life.
“I’ve long been an admirer of what they do and I’m more than happy to do anything I can to help them get their message across.”
RL Cares Chief Executive Chris Rostron said: “We are thrilled to have someone as universally respected and liked as Jim join us an RL Cares ambassador and are looking forward to working with him.
“We know that Jim holds our work with the past players community, from helping past player associations grow through to our important services around brain health and dementia, in high regard and it’s great that he will advocate on our behalf.”
The charity’s other ambassadors include RL Hall of Famer Adrian Morley, England wheelchair World Cup winner Lewis King and Sky Sports presenter Jenna Brooks.