Francis Stephenson has agreed to take on responsibility for leading the Rugby League Benevolent Fund following the retirement of Steve Ball MBE.
Francis, who has a long and established association with the RL Benevolent Fund and its beneficiaries, will combine the role with his current position as Transition Manager at Rugby League Cares.
A former Wakefield, Hull KR, Wigan, London and England forward, Francis has been a regular attendee at the RL Benevolent Fund reunions held at major rugby league events including the Challenge Cup final, Magic Weekend and the Super League Grand Final.
More recently, he has worked closely with the parents of Matt King OBE, Chris and Glenda to administer the educational bursary awarded in his memory.
Francis also provides wellbeing support to the England Wheelchair team and is embedded within their elite pathway programme as part of RL Cares’s commitment to player welfare.
“I am grateful for the trust placed in me by the charity in appointing me to this important role,” said Francis. “I look forward to building on my existing relationships and developing new ones as we endeavour to reinforce the significant work of the charity.
“The RL Benevolent Fund is a cause very close to my heart and I’m acutely aware of the important role it has played over the last 20 years supporting families and individuals with life-changing injuries.”
The RL Benevolent Fund provides lifelong care and support to all players - and their immediate families - who have suffered serious life-changing injuries on the field of play.
RL Benevolent Fund Chairman Tim Adams MBE said: “I am delighted that Francis has taken on this very important role. As someone who knows our beneficiaries very well from his close involvement with the charity in recent years, he is the natural choice when it comes to succeeding Steve Ball.
“Francis’s credentials, including the insight he brings from his work with the England Wheelchair team, are first class and I have no doubts he will add a new dimension to the position.”
You can support the work of the RL Benevolent Fund by making a donation to the charity’s dedicated Justgiving page - www.justgiving.com/charity/rfluk
