London Calling – for Harvey Burnett, and the Southern Conference League

Even with London Broncos out of action as a result of their early Challenge Cup exit, the countdown is on for a big weekend for Rugby League in the capital and its surrounds.

The Southern Conference League kicks off on Saturday with 2023 champions Hammersmith Hills Hoists hosting the North Herts Crusaders at Chiswick RUFC, and London Skolars making a welcome return to action as they host Bedford Tigers at the New River Stadium.

And also on Saturday at Grasshoppers in Osterley, there’s a special and poignant event in support of Harvey Burnett, the former Broncos, Skolars and Scotland forward who was diagnosed with Small Round Cell Desmoplastic sarcoma, a type of cancer, five years ago at the age of 23.

Many of Harvey’s former team-mates and friends will be taking part in a North versus South fixture kicking off at 3pm to help him raise funds for treatment in Germany.

Harvey discovered Rugby League through the Elmbridge Eagles community club, and progressed through the Broncos Academy before making his senior debut in 2015.

Phil Jones, the RFL’s National Player Development Manager, knows Harvey well from his time as Head of Youth at the Broncos – and urges all Rugby League fans to show their support.

“Harvey was captain of the Broncos Academy when I Head of Youth at the club,” Phil explained.

“He is a brilliant character, who has always shown resilience when dealing with adversity and the challenges life has thrown at him. You can see how liked and respected he is by his team-mates with the turn out for the North V South match this Saturday.”

For further details of Saturday’s fixture and his inspirational response following the cancer diagnosis in 2019, click here The Harvey Burnett Charity Game (londonbroncosrl.com).

The Southern Conference League has a new look in 2024, with Bristol All Golds flying the flag for the west of England in a nine-team competition.

They miss out on the opening round before kicking off with a trip to North Herts on Saturday week (April 20), leaving all four matches this weekend in London and the south-east.

It’s already been a significant year for the SCL with the Hoists and Wests Warriors, their victims in last year’s Grand Final, each enjoying a successful run through the early rounds of the Betfred Challenge Cup – and then drawing each other in the Third Round.

The Hoists won that match to secure a trip north to face the professionals of Halifax Panthers in Round Four, and made plenty of new friends as well as earning respect in a 50-4 defeat at The Shay – just as the Warriors had acquitted themselves so well at Widnes in 2023.

There has been more positive publicity for the SCL in the performances of Jarred Bassett for the Broncos in the Betfred Super League – three years after he was the SCL Player of the Year with Wests Warriors.

The Warriors start their latest campaign with a trip to Colchester to face the Eastern Rhinos, while Brentwood Eels travel in the opposite direction to face London Chargers.

Fixtures for the SCL competition can be found here.