Health and wellbeing

Luke Bryan was left paralysed from the neck down after suffering a serious spinal injury in a seemingly innocuous tackle while playing for his local ...

In the world of professional sports, where victories and defeats often dominate the headlines, there are stories that transcend the scoreboard, ...

Rugby League Cares hosted the clubs' dedicated player welfare managers at UCEN Manchester in mid-September for their scheduled third-quarter review.

In September 1973, Barrie Winrow suffered a devastating injury playing amateur rugby league for a local club in Wigan. Barrie damaged vertebrae in ...

Calling all parents, partners, and families of professional rugby players! We understand the unique challenges and opportunities that come with being ...

John Burke was one of the hottest junior properties of the 1970s with a host of top clubs queueing up to sign him on professional forms. Although a ...

Tony Atherton suffered life-changing injuries after being kicked in the head playing for St Helens A team against Leigh in March 1974. His injury was ...

The spotlight often shines brightly on the players in professional rugby league, and rightly so. Their athleticism, skill, and determination are the ...

The roar of the crowd, the clash of bodies, the thrill of victory – professional rugby is a high-stakes game where every decision, both on and off ...

As professional rugby players, you face immense pressure both on and off the field. The drive to excel, the physical demands of training, and the ...

Ahead of the Betfred Super League's dedicated Tackling the Tough Stuff round, our health and wellbeing manager Paul Wood chats about the charity's ...

It was lovely to meet the retired players – and their partners who were with them – at our dementia clinic with our dedicated Dementia UK Admiral ...

Following the heartbreaking death of Rob Burrow CBE, we know many people within the rugby league family will be experiencing grief and a sense of ...

In a recent interview on the James Graham's The Bye Round Podcast, former NRL star Dale Finucane opened up about the challenges of forced retirement. ...

Nine habits that empower rugby players in their second half.

Rugby League Hall of Fame inductee Adrian Morley is the latest sporting great to accept the challenge of tackling our epic cycling fundraiser, the ...

Rugby League Cares has launched a dedicated dementia specialist Admiral Nurse service in collaboration with Dementia UK, for current and retired ...

This blog post and podcast, originally published by the Professional Association of Athlete Development Specialists (PAADS), delves into the success ...

Former Great Britain, Bradford Bulls and St Helens prop Paul Anderson is forging a successful career guiding the international stars of tomorrow in ...

All current and recently retired players are reminded that the painkiller tramadol has been included the 2024 WADA List of Prohibited Substances and ...

Alzheimer's patients could lose out on two groundbreaking new drugs because the NHS is unprepared, a leading charity has told BBC Panorama.

In the heart of Edinburgh, I returned to the University for the next chapter in a vital study about the brains of sports warriors. This time, the MRI ...

Rugby League Cares welcomes the RFL board’s decision to accept the changes to the way in which the sport is played that were put forward by the ...

In the world of rugby, where strength, strategy, and camaraderie define the game, there's a growing concern about the potential long-term impact on ...

Living with, and caring for, someone with Alzheimer's disease is a tough, emotional rollercoaster ride.

Dementia is an umbrella term for a range of progressive conditions that affect the brain. Each type of dementia stops a person’s brain cells ...

As the final whistle blows on a full-time rugby career, a new chapter begins. Transitioning from the rigours of professional rugby to a dual-career ...

Rugby League Cares continued its support for the England wheelchair team during the 2023 autumn international against France when the charity's ...

Former England and St Helens captain James Graham tackles some of the biggest issues in the sport in his Rugby League Round Table podcast.

Discover the transformative power of gratitude in the world of transitioning athletes. This article explores the myriad benefits of practising ...

Important information for all retiring professional and semi-professional players.

James Graham introduces a special episode of the 'Rugby League Round Table' podcast, where he delves into a critical topic – the management of former ...

Behind every player's transition out of the world of professional rugby league, there stands a team of friends, families, and partners, who play an ...

As well as providing welfare support to the England men, women and wheelchair teams, Rugby League Cares also support players involved in the England ...

Maybe not a subject many people think about, but it’s one I am conscious of and may link to why I am so disciplined with my routine and staying ...

The IOC initiative, Athlete365, has recently launched a dedicated mental health wellbeing portal, created specifically for the benefit of athletes ...

In the transition from elite athleticism to a new chapter in life, athletes often encounter significant changes in their body composition, and this ...

Former Royal Marine Commando and RL Cares community officer Sam Laird shares a tool he used to understand his relationship with alcohol and implement ...

The Rugby League Cares Brain Health Fund has been established to allow the implementation of a far-reaching education and support programme for both ...

In the realm of professional sports, the pursuit of excellence is a relentless journey filled with exhilarating highs and crushing lows. The ...

Rugby League Cares has issued a heartfelt ‘thank you’ to Australia’s National Rugby League for the warm welcome given to the charity’s Director of ...

Knowing when it is safe to return to playing again after having a baby can be difficult for women rugby league players. In this interview with Sky ...

Having clear meaning and purpose in our life has many positive effects for our overall wellbeing.

Rugby League Cares has partnered with UCEN Manchester to deliver an athlete-focused counselling course that is upskilling the charity’s staff and the ...

Alcohol is very much a cultural norm and widely accepted in society: it is present at a wide range of celebrations and social/recreational gatherings.

Mindfulness is a skill that is simple to use, however it can’t necessarily be classed as an easy skill to apply, especially in the beginning.

MICKY Higham picked up plenty of battle scars during a 20-year rugby league career but one stands out more than most.

In April 2023, rugby league legend Adrian Morley and his fellow director at Manchester-based recruitment specialists Impact Resourcing, Neil Farrow ...

The President of the Rugby Football League, Sir Lindsay Hoyle, has revealed that the work of Rugby League Cares has inspired him to put in place a ...

A fascinating chat between James and George opens up on his career, the injury toll on the body of a footy player and how he coped, and touches onto ...

The issues around head injuries are discussed frankly in this insightful vlog featuring five players who have first-hand experience of concussion.

Rugby League Cares has reaffirmed its commitment to providing world class levels of support to the sport’s playing community by running a two-day ...

Across all codes of contact sport there’s a new focus on the long-term impacts of head trauma after a series of high profile incidents.

Stevie Ward has been battling persistent post-concussion symptoms since suffering two head injuries early in 2020. In this Sky Sports documentary, ...

Scotland international Matty Russell chats about the uncertainties of professional sport on this Love Rugby League podcast.

This informative video looks at the science of gratitude, which studies have shown can have a significant impact on mental and physical health.

This podcast from Huberman Lab provides a host of information on what makes us sleepy, sleep soundly, and feel awake and alert.

England centre Kallum Watkins shares an open and honest account of the struggles that lie behind his success....

England forward Mike Cooper discusses some of the biggest mental challenges an elite sportsperson will face, and his thoughts on managing tough ...

Huddersfield Giants second row Josh Jones has been a big supporter of Offload, the mental fitness programme from RL Cares, since its launch in 2017.

In an incredibly candid interview, former Kangaroos full-back Josh Dugan talks about his personal demons, coping with stress and anxiety, and how he ...

Rugby union players Chris Ashton, Ugo Monye and Danny Care discuss their experiences with social media abuse and how to deal with online trolls.

Former England stand-off and Man of Steel Rangi Chase spoke to Alex Simmons ahead of his return to Rugby League after two years away.

BBC rugby league correspondent Dave Woods is joined by former Super League star Shaun Lunt in a special episode 5 Live Podcast to talk about the ...

In this frank interview with Fraser Dainton from Sky Sports, Castleford Tigers player Kenny Edwards opens up about his lifelong battles with alcohol ...

GamCare is the leading provider of information, advice and support for anyone negatively affected by gambling.

As part of RL Cares's 'Gratitude' campaign, former Leeds Rhinos and Great Britain second row Jamie Jones-Buchanan writes a very special letter to the ...

England Wheelchair Rugby League player and World Cup winner James Simpson, who lost both legs in an IED explosion in Afghanistan at the age of 23, ...

England Women's captain Emily Rudge writes a special letter to her parents expressing her gratitude for the important part they have played in her ...

Former Super League player Lee Jewitt talks about what it meant for him to be mentally tough as a young elite athlete.

Tony Adams MBE & Lee Jewitt discuss the changing culture and awareness of mental health within sport.

Often referred to as EQ, emotional intelligence is a key weapon in the toolkit of the modern athlete. Bob Dylan sang ‘Times are a changing’ and in ...

As with most things in life, prevention will always be preferable to the cure. As athletes, you’ll spent countless hours weekly working out in the ...

Let's slow down! Modern life has us rushing about preoccupied and worried about what has happened in our past, what might happen in our futures and ...

When playing a high-collision sport like rugby league, the ability to react instinctively to an aggressive attack with a counter-aggressive action is ...

Mental wellbeing and resilience issues are becoming more prevalent in our working and playing lives. Healthcare providers Bupa say the number of ...