Women’s Rugby League will provide this summer’s RL Cares cycling challenge with an international dimension, as French forward Capucine Auger will join her Sheffield Eagles colleague Andrea Dobson on the Wild Atlantic Adventure.
Dobson, the record-breaking former England and Great Britain front-row, now works as rugby development officer for the Sheffield Eagles Foundation, playing a leading role in the success story in South Yorkshire which sees the men’s team joint top of the Betfred Championship table and the club thriving in many other areas including their Women’s teams.
She has been a long-term supporter of RL Cares, having joined the Ride to Wembley in 2019 – and has persuaded Auger, who has made a big impact since joining the Eagles, to join her and a host of other familiar Rugby League names as they tackle the south coast of Ireland, kicking off in Cork on June 26.
“I did Ride to Wembley with RL Cares in 2019 but that was a long time ago,” said Andrea.
“I’ve had another child since then and I’m five years older so I’m expecting this to be incredibly tough.
“I’ve been out on my bike once all year and it hasn’t stopped raining since, which means I’m not as bike fit as I’d like to be. It’s clearly going to hurt but they’re the best sort of challenges!
“I see at first hand from the work I do with the Eagles Foundation how important RL Cares are and this is my chance to put something back.
“Just as we are supported by RL Cares, the club does a great deal to support the women’s team and that’s why Capucine was so keen to get involved.
“She’s never done anything like this before but she’s always up for a challenge and I’m sure we’ll help each other get through it to the end.”
Capucine and Andrea will saddle up alongside former England and Great Britain back row Gareth Ellis, ex-Ireland international Bob Beswick and a host of other big names when the ride sets off from Cork on June 26.
The Wild Atlantic Adventure is taking place in partnership with Rugby Players Ireland, the organisation that provided welfare support to rugby union players across Ireland, and in association with Wakefield-based central heating experts Boiler Central.
You can support Andrea and Capucine on this gruelling challenge by sponsoring them via their own dedicated JustGiving pages.
