Rugby league will hold its first game-wide Charity Round on the Bank Holiday weekend of August 27-31, which also marks the anniversary of the Northern Union breakaway in 1895 – as the sport comes together to support the renamed Seriously Injured Players Fund.
Fans at all matches in the Betfred Super League, Women’s Super League and Championship, and the final of the 1895 Cup, will be given the opportunity to show their support for seriously-injured players and their families, under a new initiative launched jointly by Rugby League Cares, Rugby League Commercial and the Rugby Football League.
This coincides with the launch by RL Cares of the Seriously Injured Players Fund, a new name for the Rugby League Benevolent Fund – which has been rebranded 21 years after its foundation in 2005, in response to the injuries suffered by Danny Scott and the late Matt King OBE.
The 2026 Rugby League Cares Charity Round will kick off on Thursday August 27 in spectacular fashion at The Brick Community Stadium as Wigan Warriors host Hull KR in a repeat of the 2024 and 2025 Betfred Super League Grand Finals, and also of next Saturday’s Betfred Challenge Cup final at Wembley Stadium.
The Charity Round continues with three more Super League fixtures on Friday August 28, including the heavyweight showdown between St Helens and Leeds Rhinos at the BrewDog Stadium, and fittingly a fixture in Huddersfield: the town where the Northern Union breakaway from the Rugby Football Union was formalised in 1895 – with the Giants hosting Leigh Leopards at Accu Stadium.
Foundation Day itself, Saturday August 29, features the remaining three Super League fixtures of Round 25, one of which will be covered live by BBC Sport.
There will also be some big games in the Betfred Women’s Super League when the fixtures for the second phase of the competition are confirmed, and the RL Cares Charity Round will also involve the Betfred Championship and the Community Game – with a bumper programme of Championship fixtures on Sunday August 30 including the local derbies between Halifax and Keighley in Yorkshire, Rochdale and Oldham in Lancashire, and Workington and Whitehaven on the West Cumbrian coast.
The Charity Round concludes with the 1895 Cup final on Bank Holiday Monday, August 31, and although there are no fixtures scheduled over the Bank Holiday weekend in Community Rugby League or the Betfred Wheelchair Super League, Rugby League Cares will work with clubs and players at all levels to offer opportunities to get involved.
Francis Stephenson, the former England forward who took over as general manager of the Benevolent Fund last winter, has driven the relaunch as the Seriously Injured Players Fund – and has praised the support of the sport in establishing the RL Cares Charity Round.
“It will be a first for rugby league to have the whole sport coming together knowing that all the money we raise will be in aid of seriously injured players and their families.
“The sport is rightly proud of the work the Benevolent Fund has done over the last two decades. But from my discussions with clubs and other key stakeholders through the winter, it became clear that the growth of Rugby League Cares and all the wonderful work the charity does around mental fitness and wellbeing has led to some confusion about the role of the Benevolent Fund.
“That’s why we wanted to remove that confusion with a new title and brand for the charity which leaves no doubt about its purpose – fans will know when they support the Charity Round, or the Seriously Injured Players Fund in any other way, their money will go directly to enhancing the lives of those players and their families.
“Rugby League continues to prioritise player safety and minimising the number of serious injuries, but we have to recognise that in a collision sport, as in life in general, accidents will occasionally happen – and to be prepared to react as necessary.
“The Seriously Injured Players Fund is how we do that, as well as continuing to support the long-term beneficiaries – and it’s typical of those beneficiaries that they have volunteered to be at the centre of a physical fund-raising challenge which we’ll be announcing later in the summer.
“We’re all massively grateful to Rugby League Commercial and the Rugby Football League for their support in the introduction of the RL Cares Charity Round, and likewise to clubs at all levels.
“Timing the Charity Round to coincide with the anniversary of the foundation of the sport in 1895 provides the chance for clubs and supporters to come together and celebrate everything that’s great about rugby league.”
Rhodri Jones, RL Commercial managing director and RFL interim chief executive, said: “We are delighted to confirm a sport-wide Charity Round across the August Bank Holiday weekend, which represents the very best of the rugby league community coming together for a greater purpose.
“Sport has the power to inspire, unite and support people through difficult times, and this initiative will help shine a light on the vital assistance the Seriously Injured Players Fund delivers to athletes who are in recovery and rebuilding their lives.
“We hope this round not only raises important funds, but also gives fans and clubs the opportunity to celebrate Foundation Day which is of course a very important day for the sport.
“On behalf of everyone involved, we’re honoured to support such an important cause.”
