--- title: Rugby League Cares thanks National Conference League for parting gift description: The National Conference League's management and clubs have voted to donate their remaining funds to support the Seriously Injured Players Fund image: https://rugbyleaguecares.org/hubfs/sw_31%20Wigan%20St%20Pats%20v%20Ince%20Rose.jpg --- [Skip to content](https://rugbyleaguecares.org/news/rugby-league-cares-thanks-national-conference-league-for-parting-gift#main-content) [Skip to content](https://rugbyleaguecares.org/news/rugby-league-cares-thanks-national-conference-league-for-parting-gift#main-content) MENU - [Home](https://rugbyleaguecares.org) - [Latest News](https://rugbyleaguecares.org/news/tag/blog) - [About us](https://rugbyleaguecares.org/about-us) - [Community](https://rugbyleaguecares.org/community) - [Blackburn with Darwen](https://rugbyleaguecares.org/bwd) - [Get Involved](https://rugbyleaguecares.org/get-involved) - [RLCares Membership](https://rugbyleaguecares.org/membership) - [Players](https://rugbyleaguecares.org/players) - [Seriously Injured Players Fund](https://rugbyleaguecares.org/benevolent-fund) - [Contact](https://rugbyleaguecares.org/contact) ADDITIONAL LINKS - [Donate](https://www.justgiving.com/charity/rugbyleaguecares) - [Become a RLCares Member](https://secure.emandates.co.uk/Pages/Registration.aspx?.Client=174727dc-753e-4383-8ffe-c20cf2241cbb&.PaymentPlans=2b374003-6249-430d-b255-bf31124f8b19) - [Merchandise](https://www.eliteprosports.co.uk/rl-cares/) - [GET HELP NOW](https://rugbyleaguecares.org/get-help-now) Rugby League Cares MENU [![](https://rugbyleaguecares.org/hubfs/Globals/Logos%20NEW/RL%20Cares%20Grey.png)](https://rugbyleaguecares.org/) # Rugby League Cares thanks National Conference League for parting gift Oct 30, 2026, 9:15:56 AM [Rugby League Cares](https://rugbyleaguecares.org/news/author/rugby-league-cares) Share: [facebook-f icon](http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https://rugbyleaguecares.org/news/rugby-league-cares-thanks-national-conference-league-for-parting-gift) [linkedin-in icon](http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://rugbyleaguecares.org/news/rugby-league-cares-thanks-national-conference-league-for-parting-gift) [twitter icon](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?url=https://rugbyleaguecares.org/news/rugby-league-cares-thanks-national-conference-league-for-parting-gift) [pinterest-p icon](http://pinterest.com/pin/create/link/?url=https://rugbyleaguecares.org/news/rugby-league-cares-thanks-national-conference-league-for-parting-gift) [envelope icon](mailto:?body=https://rugbyleaguecares.org/news/rugby-league-cares-thanks-national-conference-league-for-parting-gift) Gone but never forgotten – certainly not by Rugby League Cares.   After four decades showcasing the best of Community Rugby League, the National Conference League have marked the end of a Rugby League era by donating their remaining funds to the Seriously Injured Players Fund – a significant five-figure donation.   Francis Stephenson, the General Manager of the Seriously Injured Players Fund – which was founded as the Rugby League Benevolent Fund in 2005 – said: *“We are hugely grateful to Mike Denning, Trevor Hunt and everyone else who has been involved in the NCL since its foundation in 1986 – for this magnificent gesture, but also for the contribution they have made to the sport.* *“The NCL and its clubs represent the best of Rugby League, the bedrock of the sport across the country from West Cumbria to East Hull.* *“The competition and its clubs have been fuelled by hundreds, probably thousands of volunteers – and we were blown away to be told that those people were prepared to make this donation to the Seriously Injured Players Fund.* *“It couldn’t be more appropriate, as the vast majority of the players who have been supported over the last 21 years since the foundation of the Rugby League Benevolent Fund have been injured in the community game.* *“It was striking on the fundraising challenge that was a feature of our first ever Charity Round in August that the most generous and enthusiastic support came from community clubs whose players have received support, from West Hull to Haydock.* *“Donations such as this mean that our support of community players and their families can continue, on the thankfully rare occasions when serious injuries inevitably occur.”*   Mike Denning, who became Chair of the NCL in 2025 having played a key role in its development in more than two decades holding the same role with Thatto Heath Crusaders, said: *“We are delighted that the final act of the National Conference League has been to underline our support for Rugby League Cares and the Seriously Injured Players Fund.* *“This was the unanimous wish of our NCL clubs – that any remaining funds from the dissolution of the League should be channelled specifically to help injured players, rather than into the governing body.* *“Many of our clubs have worked closely with Rugby League Cares over the two decades since the foundation of the Benevolent Fund, and are aware of the importance of the Fund to the sport as a whole.* *“It’s a matter of record that we were disappointed by the decision to restructure the sport and remove the NCL so abruptly at the end of 2025, therefore denying a 40th season which would also have offered the opportunity of a more managed transition.* *“However we have been delighted that the standards and spirit of the NCL has been maintained through the clubs – and we also take this opportunity to congratulate the winners of the recent play-off series in various divisions, and for that matter all the clubs for adapting so positively to a difficult transitional season.* *“We are pleased that this donation allows us to sign off in a similarly positive manner.”*   *PHOTO CAPTION - Wigan St Patrick's, who were one of the 10 founding clubs of the National Conference League in 1986, pictured after a Challenge Cup win against town rivals Ince Rose Bridge in 2023*   [Francis Stephenson](https://rugbyleaguecares.org/news/tag/francis-stephenson), [Seriously Injured Players Fund](https://rugbyleaguecares.org/news/tag/seriously-injured-players-fund), [National Conference League](https://rugbyleaguecares.org/news/tag/national-conference-league) ## **Our Partners** ![EHU New MHSPA Black Logo](https://rugbyleaguecares.org/hubfs/Globals/Partners%20Logos/EHU%20New%20MHSPA%20Black%20Logo.png) ![JUL 2019 Mattioli Woods Stacked Logo NO PLC RGB (1)-1-1](https://rugbyleaguecares.org/hubfs/Globals/Partners%20Logos/JUL%202019%20Mattioli%20Woods%20Stacked%20Logo%20NO%20PLC%20RGB%20(1)-1-1.png) ![Howorth Air Tech Logo](https://rugbyleaguecares.org/hubfs/Globals/Partners%20Logos/Howorth%20Air%20Tech%20Logo.png) ![bartlet](https://rugbyleaguecares.org/hubfs/Globals/Partners%20Logos/bartlet.png) ![logo](https://rugbyleaguecares.org/hubfs/Globals/Partners%20Logos/logo.png) ![UCEN\_Logo\_CMYK](https://rugbyleaguecares.org/hubfs/Globals/Partners%20Logos/UCEN_Logo_CMYK.png) ![all sport](https://rugbyleaguecares.org/hubfs/Globals/Partners%20Logos/Untitled-1.webp) ![oxen-2024-black-copy](https://rugbyleaguecares.org/hubfs/Globals/Partners%20Logos/oxen-2024-black-copy.png) ![Movember\_Primary Logo\_White copy](https://rugbyleaguecares.org/hubfs/Globals/Partners%20Logos/Movember_Primary%20Logo_White%20copy.png) ![images](https://rugbyleaguecares.org/hubfs/Globals/Partners%20Logos/images.png) ![Caffe Nero B&W1](https://rugbyleaguecares.org/hubfs/Globals/Partners%20Logos/Caffe%20Nero%20B%26W1.png) ![exp-atol-logos-stacked](https://rugbyleaguecares.org/hubfs/Globals/Partners%20Logos/exp-atol-logos-stacked.png) [![RL Cares White Text\_White Outline](https://rugbyleaguecares.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Globals/Logos%20NEW/RL%20Cares%20White%20Text_White%20Outline.png?width=175&height=69&name=RL%20Cares%20White%20Text_White%20Outline.png "RL Cares White Text_White Outline")](https://rugbyleaguecares.org/) [![RL Cares White Text\_White Outline](https://rugbyleaguecares.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Globals/Logos%20NEW/RL%20Cares%20White%20Text_White%20Outline.png?width=175&height=69&name=RL%20Cares%20White%20Text_White%20Outline.png "RL Cares White Text_White Outline")](https://rugbyleaguecares.org/) Rugby League Cares is an independent charity that touches upon the lives of people involved at every level of rugby league.    [info@rlcares.org.uk](mailto:info@rlcares.org)   Rugby League Cares is a registered charity in England and Wales (1109858) ![fundraising-regulator12](https://rugbyleaguecares.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Globals/fundraising-regulator12.png?width=175&height=54&name=fundraising-regulator12.png) ![fundraising-regulator12](https://rugbyleaguecares.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Globals/fundraising-regulator12.png?width=175&height=54&name=fundraising-regulator12.png "fundraising-regulator12") **MAIN MENU** - 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