A record-breaking President’s Ball, a new identity and a gruelling cycling challenge through Tuscany have made 2026 a landmark year for Rugby League Cares and the newly named Seriously Injured Players Fund.
2026 is turning into quite a year for the charity formerly known as the Rugby League Benevolent Fund.
It’s 21 years since the Benevolent Fund was launched in 2005, following the life-changing injuries suffered the previous year by Danny Scott playing for Moldgreen ARLFC, and the late Matt King OBE on his debut for London Broncos Academy.
The 21st birthday celebrations began with a record-breaking President’s Ball hosted by Adam Hills MBE at the Queens Hotel in Leeds, which raised almost £50,000 for the Fund.
Then in May, Rugby League Cares confirmed a new identity for the Benevolent Fund, which has been relaunched as the Seriously Injured Players Fund – on a basis that would presumably be approved by Ronseal, long-term backers of the RFL’s match officials, as a charity with the sole purpose of raising money to support seriously injured players and their families now does exactly what it says on the tin.
The relaunch was accompanied by confirmation of rugby league’s first-ever sport-wide Charity Round to coincide with the anniversary of the 1895 Northern Union breakaway on the last weekend in August – providing the platform for clubs at all levels to come together and show their support for the Seriously Injured Players Fund.
But before that, there was the major fundraising event of the year for Rugby League Cares – the annual cycling challenge, which in 2026 broke stunning new ground in Tuscany – and was another resounding success.
The Ciclo Italiano was a unique rugby league event. It brought together a collection of people with various motivations, although they shared a love of cycling, a taste for adventure and a desire to raise money for the Seriously Injured Players Fund.
The cyclists were all male, although gender stereotypes were mocked by Catherine and Tracey, two members of the support staff from Rugby League Cares who drove the van on a round trip from Yorkshire – well over 2,000km in total.
Five of the 14 cyclists had played professionally – Matt Diskin, James Elston, Mark Fortis, Nathan McAvoy and Adrian Morley.
Elston, McAvoy and Morley were old sweats, having joined previous RL Cares cycling challenges.
But for Diskin and Fortis, old pals from Dewsbury Moor, this was new territory. And Diskin set another precedent by cycling alongside his father, Dave.
“Mark was my first junior coach at Dewsbury Moor, and has become a great friend of my dad’s,” explained Matt, perhaps the least heralded of Leeds Rhinos’ golden generation, but whose tough and skilful contribution must make him one of the best hookers of Super League’s first three decades.
“We’d done a few challenges before, so this was perfect for us. And it was a fantastic experience.
“The scenery was beautiful. Castiglion Fiorentina was my favourite – the architecture was special.
“But it was really tough. It got up to 39 degrees one day, and we all suffered in different ways. And I think that’s the best part really. Since retirement, you don’t get into those mental battles, or the feeling of being part of a team and all of you getting through to the other side.
“It was a great group – we’ve made friends for life. And I feel very fortunate to have shared the experience with my dad. He had his tough times like the rest of us, but he cycled really well.”
Diskin senior had popped into the RL Cares office in Birstall on the Thursday before the group boarded their flight from Manchester to Pisa on Saturday morning. He was on his way to Headingley to watch two of his grandsons playing for the Rhinos in a reserve grade match against St Helens – Matt’s son Joe, also a hooker, and Evan Jones, who is the son of Matt’s sister.
The Rhinos won that game handsomely, and the senior team then came from behind to complete a double against Saints, and climb to the top of the Betfred Super League table – a perfect pre-Ciclo boost for the Diskins.
Morley described the ride as “probably the toughest we’ve done, with the hills and the heat.
“But that’s as it should be,” he added. “It has to be a challenge for us to earn the amazing support we’ve had – and to raise so much money for the Seriously Injured Players Fund.”
The riders passed their collective target of £30,000 on the last day as they returned to Pisa, and the total has continued to tick up since then.
“That’s the main thing I want to say,” Morley added. “Thank you to everyone who has made donations on our JustGiving page, and also to all the riders who have worked so hard on and off their bikes to support seriously injured players.
“And a huge thanks to all our sponsors, many of whom have been with us all the way – including Pickups Self-Storage, who were our main naming sponsors this year. We’ve also had brilliant support from GBR-Price, The Bartlett Group, NL Commercial, BOOST Energy and Sport, Vawtx Ltd, Wolf Competitions and Oxen Sports – we couldn’t do it without them.
“Being an ex-player myself, I can see first-hand just what a difference the Seriously Injured Players Fund does make to the lives of these players and their families.”
And Morley will make no apologies for repeating that message when fundraising for the Seriously Injured Players Fund – and the Brain Health Fund that was launched by RL Cares with the high-profile support of pre-Sir Kevin Sinfield two years ago – resumes in earnest with the RL Cares Charity Round at the end of August.
“The great thing about the Charity Round is it covers the whole sport,” said Morley.
“We kick off with Wigan v Hull KR on the Thursday night, we’ve got some more tasty Super League games through Friday and Saturday, and then Workington v Whitehaven in the Championship on Sunday and the 1895 Cup Final on Bank Holiday Monday.
“We know rugby league fans are massive supporters of the players who put their bodies on the line, and sometimes do suffer serious injuries.
“We’re not the richest sport, but that makes it even more important that we rally round, so we’re ready with support whenever it’s needed.”
More details about the Charity Round will be released next month. If you’d like to get involved, contact info@rlcares.org.uk.
And as for the RL Cares Cycling Challenge? 2027 will mark the 10th anniversary of the first ride, on more familiar territory from Headingley to Wembley. Exciting plans are being hatched to mark that anniversary in style – watch this space!
First published in Rugby League World magazine, Issue 522 (July 2026)