For the four Rugby League heroes who will be spending the weekend of the sport’s first Charity Round pedalling Batec armbikes around the northern heartlands to raise money for the Seriously Injured Players Fund, Thursday August 27 has been marked in the diary for months – the day they start their exacting challenge, with an opening ride from the Brewdog Stadium in St Helens, over Billinge Hill to Wigan’s Brick Community Stadium for the Warriors’ Grand Final rematch against Hull KR.
But the Charity Round has already kicked off, with a trio of rearranged community fixtures on Wednesday night.
The Bank Holiday weekend had originally been left free for community players, but rearranged matches provided a chance for the Rugby League Cares team to reinforce the point that the Charity Round covers the whole sport, from Betfred Super League to Conference Yorkshire B – just as the Seriously Injured Players Fund is on hand to support players from all levels of Rugby League.
Francis Stephenson, the General Manager of the Seriously Injured Players Fund, said:
“The Wednesday night games were a great chance for us to get out to a couple of community clubs, and to raise awareness that the Fund is there for them.
“We’re grateful for the warm welcome we received from Newsome for their game against Fryston, and from Woolston for their match against Clock Face Miners.
“Unfortunately we weren’t able to get up to Dalton’s match against Hindpool in the Cumbrian Conference, but we’re really looking forward to taking the Charity Round to Cumbria when the cyclists travel from Whitehaven to Workington for Sunday’s derby.
“Community Rugby League remains the heartbeat of the sport, and it was good for all of us to be reminded of the amount of work and commitment that underpins it – as well as the quality of the rugby on the field, and the enjoyment it provides.”
The Heartlands Cycling Challenge will make stops at a number of community clubs, starting at Siddal on Friday morning.
Friday afternoon’s leg starts from Sharlston Rovers, where one of the cyclists, Jimmy Gittins, suffered his life-changing injury.
On Saturday, Jimmy’s journey to his local professional club Wakefield Trinity begins at Thornhill Trojans, and later in the day Pete Stephenson will head home to West Hull to cycle to the MKM Stadium in time for Hull FC’s game against Warrington Wolves.
Sunday is the Cumbrian leg which includes a stop at Lowca en route from Whitehaven to Workington, and Monday’s last leg starts from Orrell St James and calls at Haydock before arriving at Warrington’s Halliwell Jones Stadium for the 1895 Cup Final.
You can sponsor the cyclists here as they raise money for the Seriously Injured Players Fund Seriously Injured Players Fund is fundraising for RFL Benevolent Fund
And to find out more about the work of the Seriously Injured Players Fund, check out a range of stories on the Rugby League Cares website Rugby League Cares | Home
RL Heartlands Cycling Challenge schedule (all timings approximate!)
Thursday August 27 - leave Brewdog Stadium (St Helens) 3pm; arrive Brick Community Stadium (Wigan) 7pm - ahead of Wigan Warriors v Hull KR
Friday August 28 - leave Siddal ARLFC 930am; arrive Huddersfield Giants (Accu Stadium) midday; leave Sharlston Rovers ARLFC 230pm, arrive Post Office Road (Featherstone Rovers Foundation) 5pm, then on to OneBore Stadium for 7pm - ahead of Castleford Tigers v Catalans Dragons
Saturday August 29 - leave Thornhill Trojans ARLFC midday; arrive Dewsbury Rams 2pm (ahead of Rams v Newcastle Thunder); on to DIY Kitchens Stadium 4pm (ahead of Wakefield Trinity v York Knights); separate group relocates to leave West Hull ARLFC 4pm for MKM Stadium at 5pm (ahead of Hull FC v Warrington Wolves)
Sunday August 30 - leave Whitehaven RLFC 10am, arrive Lowca ARLFC midday, then on to Derwent Park for Workington Town v Whitehaven (3pm)
Monday August 31 - leave Orrell St James ARLFC 9am, arrive Haydock ARLFC 11am then on to Halliwell Jones Stadium (Warrington) for 1895 Cup Final - London Broncos v Widnes Vikings at 3pm