Rugby League Cares are delighted to welcome Vawtx as new partners for the 2026 Ciclo Italiano – a new Yorkshire-based company focused on the decarbonisation of power and transport networks, who will be represented on the fund-raising ride through Tuscany by a name familiar both in Rugby League, and from previous RL Cares challenges.
James Elston spent nine seasons playing for Dewsbury, York and Rochdale before moving to off-field roles with Wakefield Trinity including a spell as CEO. He’s been working in renewables for the last decade and is now Head of Commercial for Vawtx Ltd, heading up their Solar PV division, and strengthening delivery capability across large-scale rooftop and full-site energy projects.
He’ll join his fellow former hooker Matt Diskin on the Ciclo Italiano, having relished the challenge of previous RL Cares cycling adventures – and helped to raise tens of thousands of pounds for seriously-injured players through the Rugby League Benevolent Fund.
There’s another strong Rugby League link at Vawtx in Craig Halloran, the former referee who has become a friend and colleague of Elston’s despite sending him off for an alleged trip early in his playing career – a decision which James claims was overturned by the disciplinary authorities. Craig is Technical Director for Vawtx Ltd, and his wife Gemma is the Marketing Manager.
James Elston said:
“I’m really excited to be on board with the Rugby League Cares team again for the cycling challenge, and especially pleased that Vawtx are going to be jersey sponsors for the Ciclo Italiano.
“There’s so much momentum in the low-carbon energy sector at the moment, and at Vawtx we believe that our involvement in the Ciclo Italiano can help raise awareness of what we could offer to Rugby League clubs at all levels – in terms of solar PV systems, standalone batteries, and grid-connected Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS).
“For me as a former player and administrator, and Craig as a former referee, it’s also good to know that we’re helping to raise money for the Benevolent Fund, which has done such an amazing job for the last 20 years supporting seriously-injured players and their families.
“We’ve been to some great places over the years but Italy is a new challenge and sounds fantastic. With a great team of riders lined up, I’m hoping we can raise a really significant sum for the Benevolent Fund.”
Francis Stephenson, the General Manager of the Benevolent Fund, said:
“It’s great to welcome Vawtx to our team for the Ciclo Italiano, and Jimmy to the group who will be heading for Tuscany next month.
“I’ve known Jimmy and Craig for a long time and they’re real Rugby League people who understand the importance of the Benevolent Fund.
“We’re really grateful to everyone at Vawtx Ltd for their support, which means the riders will head for Italy with record levels of corporate backing – with another few weeks to raise awareness in the Rugby League community and beyond as we aim to raise as much money as possible for seriously-injured players.”
James Elston is pictured above with Keith Senior, Head of Well-Being Programmes for Rugby League Cares.
Vawtx join title sponsors Pickup Self-Storage and valued partnerships with GBR-Price, The Bartlett Group, NL Commercial, BOOST Energy and Sport, and apparel partners Oxen Sports.
The Ciclo Italiano begins in Pisa on Sunday June 7, a five-day, 500km circular tour of Tuscany which follows some of the same terrain that will have been covered by the Giro d’Italia in May.
To support James Elston or the other riders, click here https://www.justgiving.com/page/james-elston-13
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