Rivals United: Shouldering the Legacy for Dewsbury Moor

This Easter Monday, I am taking on a challenge that takes more than just physical strength: the World Coal Carrying Championships in Gawthorpe. Heaving a 50kg sack of coal—roughly the weight of a domestic washing machine—over 1,012 yards and up the brutal 1-in-6 gradient of Maypole Hill is a daunting prospect, but the motivation behind every step is far heavier than the weight on my shoulders.

I am proud to be representing Dewsbury Moor as part of our "Rivals United" team. Alongside teammates from Batley Bulldogs, Shaw Cross Sharks, and Dewsbury Celtic, we are putting aside our local rivalries to stand together for the Rugby League Benevolent Fund. While we might be used to facing each other across the pitch, this challenge has brought us together as one community. We are proving that while we may be rivals for eighty minutes on a Saturday, we are one family when it comes to looking after our own.

For everyone at Dewsbury Moor, this cause is incredibly close to home. We carry the memory of Archie Bruce—a lad who grew up on the fields at the Moor before moving on to play for Batley. When we lost Archie in 2019, it didn't just affect one club; it devastated our entire local rugby community. In those darkest days, the Benevolent Fund was a pillar of strength, providing immediate and vital support to Archie’s family, his friends, and all of us at the club. I saw firsthand how they step in when a tragedy occurs, ensuring that no one has to face the unthinkable alone.

As a player, I know how lucky I am to be able to take on this physical challenge. By raising money for the Benevolent Fund, I want to help ensure that this safety net remains in place for the next player whose life changes in an instant. Your donations fund everything from specialized wheelchairs and home adaptations to long-term rehabilitation and mental health support for our brothers and sisters who have suffered life-changing injuries.

Please give whatever you can to support me and the team as we take on the Gawthorpe coal run. Your generosity ensures that the Rugby League family keeps its promise to look after its own. No player—past or present—should ever have to face the aftermath of a serious injury alone.