Rugby League Cares is delighted to confirm Rugby League legend Kevin Sinfield MBE and former PFA chairman Clarke Carlisle as speakers at our Business In Sport dinner in Manchester later this month.
Kevin and Clarke will join a stellar line-up for the charity fund-raising event at the National Football Museum on Tuesday October 25 that also features ex-Manchester United and England player Gary Neville and England Rugby League head coach Wayne Bennett.
Kevin Sinfield was recently appointed as the RFL’s Rugby Director after an exceptional playing career with Leeds Rhinos and England that saw him become the third highest points scorer in Rugby League history.
He represented England and Great Britain 41 times and made over 500 appearances for Leeds Rhinos, who he captained to a record seven Super League Grand Final wins.
Kevin said: “I’m really looking forward to the dinner and exploring the synergies that exist between the worlds of business and sport.
“Rugby players, like all athletes, have great stories to tell and possess a lot of transferable skills that can bring huge benefits to business.
“Players thrive under pressure and are accustomed to their performances being closely scrutinised: at the dinner I’ll be talking about how business can benefit from forging closer links with Rugby League and Rugby League players.”
Clarke Carlisle is a former centre-back who played for nine different clubs between 1997 and 2013, including Leeds United, Burnley and QPR.
He was chairman of the Professional Footballers’ Association and, having fought a long battle against depression, is a powerful advocate for the need to tackle stigma around mental health issues.
Wayne Bennett is Australia’s most experienced sports coach. In a 30-year top flight career, he has masterminded seven NRL Grand Finals with Brisbane Broncos and St George Illawarra Dragons and coached both Queensland and the Australian national team, who lost just three of their 14 matches under him.
Gary Neville made 400 appearances for Manchester United in a 19-year playing career at Old Trafford and is England’s most capped right back having represented his country on 85 occasions.
Since retiring he has worked as a TV pundit on Sky Sports, managed Valencia, spent four years as assistant coach of England and acquired a reputation as a successful property developer and hotelier
The dinner is sponsored by Allsport Insurance and is being held to raise funds for Rugby League Cares’s player welfare programme.
Geoff Derham, Business Development Director for All Sport Insurance said: “As enthusiastic new partners of Rugby League Cares, All Sport are pleased to be able to support the Business in Sport dinner which promises to be a great opportunity for us to meet other partners and associates already working with the charity.
“Rugby League is a new area if business for All Sport Insurance which we are keen to explore and promote. We look forward to continuing to work with Rugby League players to accommodate all their insurance needs.”
Rugby League Cares is the sport’s official charity which reaches out to every section of the Rugby League family. One of its important functions is supporting current players to help them prepare for life after rugby by awarding grants for further and higher education courses and training programmes.
Tickets for the Business in Sport dinner at the National Football Museum on Tuesday October 25 are cost from £100 each and are available in very limited numbers. A VIP package costing £1,500 for a table of 10 includes a private drinks reception with the guest speakers, prime seats and a gift pack.
To book your place at this unique event, or for more details, please contact Katie Irwin at Rugby League Cares via katherine.irwin@RLCares.org.uk or 07540 636515.