One thousand walkers sign up for rugby league founders walk

The 1,000th walker has signed up for the Founders Walk, a fund-raising initiative that aims to raise £120,000 for rugby league good causes by celebrating the sport’s 120th birthday.

Organised in association with Rugby League Cares, the Founders Walk takes place over six days starting in Hull on Sunday 19 July and concludes in St Helens next Friday 24 July, taking in the original grounds of rugby league’s 22 founding clubs along the way.

The majority of the walkers have signed up to do either a full day or a leg of one of the days with most having secured sponsorship from friends, family and colleagues.

The Rochdale leg of the walk takes place on Wednesday 22 July, with walkers leaving Asda, Dane Street, the site of the first ever Hornets game, at 9.30am, finishing at Kingsway Park High School.

The walk will be led by the Hercules the Hornets, who will be joined by Danny Bridge, James Tilley and many supporters and fans from Hornets and the local community who are raising money for various local causes including the Rochdale Hornets Sport Foundation (a registered charity).

RFL Chief Executive Nigel Wood, who is leading the walk across all six days, said: “It’s terrific that we now have over 1,000 people signed up to take part in what will be a memorable experience for everyone involved.

“The walk takes in some very famous rugby league grounds, and some which are less well known, and is a great opportunity for fans to celebrate their club’s – and their own – part in our very special sporting history.

“We want to have lots of fun on the way but, more importantly, we want to raise as much money as possible for good causes within the sport.

“There is still plenty of time to sign up for the walk and with most schools breaking up this week it would be fantastic to see as many youngsters as possible join in.”

Rugby league was founded at a meeting at the George Hotel in Huddersfield on August 29, 1895 when clubs broke away from the Rugby Football Union, which refused to sanction ‘broken time’ payments to players who had to take time off work on a Saturday to play.

Later this year the RFL will unveil a blue heritage plaque at each of the 22 sites and the walk is a wonderful opportunity for the young and not-so-young to step into history and fundraise for their local community club or charity along the way. 

• Day One (Sunday 19 July) is an eight-mile stroll around Hull, starting from the Walton Street car park and taking in The Boulevard before ending at the KC Stadium. (1.30pm start
• Day Two (Monday 20 July) starts at Fartown in Huddersfield and passes through Brighouse, Batley and Dewsbury before reaching Wakefield Trinity at the end of the 20-mile stage. (9.30am start)
• Day Three (Tuesday 21 July) covers 24.5 miles between Hunslet and Halifax, taking in Headingley, Manningham, Bradford Park Avenue and Illingworth on the way. (9.30am start
• Day Four (Wednesday 22 July) is 22 miles starting at Rochdale and ending at Edgeley Park via Oldham. (9.30am start)
• Day Five (Thursday 23 July) is when weary legs will be tested over 22.5 miles between Wheater Street in Broughton and the DW Stadium in Wigan. (9.30am start)
• Day Six (Friday 24 July) sees the walk conclude with a 23-mile stage between Fletcher Street in Warrington and Langtree Park in St Helens. (9.30am start)

If you can join Hercules the Hornet, Danny Bridge and James Tilley as well as delegates from the RFL and Rochdale Hornets get in touch by emailing:

foundation@hornetsrugbyleague.com

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