Adam Hills MBE hosts 2026 RFL President's Ball as record sum is raised for the Rugby League Benevolent Fund

Adam Hills MBE has thanked and congratulated Rugby League clubs and supporters after his RFL President’s Ball raised a record sum to support seriously-injured players and their families through the Rugby League Benevolent Fund.

The President’s Ball has been established as the major annual fund-raiser for the Benevolent Fund since they were both launched in 2005, and the 21st anniversary was celebrated in style at the event’s traditional home, the Queens Hotel in Leeds, on Saturday night (March 28).

Hills, presenter of The Last Leg and lifelong Rugby League supporter whose involvement with the sport has ranged from hosting Channel 4’s Super League coverage to representing Australia in the Physical Disability World Cup, is in the second year of his term as the RFL’s 33rd President, having succeeded Sir Lindsay Hoyle in January 2025.

“It was my first President’s Ball, an honour to host it, and what a great night,” he said.

“One of the reasons I was so pleased to become the RFL President, and what makes Rugby League so special in this country, is the way people look after each other.

“That’s what the Benevolent Fund is all about – there are going to be serious injuries in the sport, at all levels, and for 21 years the Fund has been there to support when the worst happens.

“I’m so grateful to the clubs who supported the event more generously than ever before – Bradford, Huddersfield, Hull FC, Hull KR, Leeds, Toulouse, Wakefield and Warrington from the Super League, and Doncaster from the Championship.

“That support came in a variety of ways, whether taking a table or in the cases of Wakefield and Warrington, incredibly generous donations of auction prizes from their owners, Matt Ellis and Simon Moran.

“For everyone in the room on the night, to hear from Jimmy Gittens about the way he’s rebuilt his life after suffering serious injury, with the support of the Benevolent Fund, summed up why we were all there.

“To Jimmy, to Jenna Brooks who interviewed him and conducted the auction so brilliantly, to the Rugby League Cares team who organised such a great event, and to our sponsors Bartlett and everyone else who bought a ticket or a table – thank you and congratulations, for your support for the Benevolent Fund.”

Francis Stephenson, the General Manager of the Benevolent Fund, added:

“I’m delighted to endorse everything Adam has said, and also to thank him for hosting an outstanding event as RFL President.

“We’ve worked very hard over the winter in raising awareness of the Benevolent Fund, especially with clubs at all levels – and we were thrilled that so many of them supported us on the night.

“We also thank Nigel Wood and Rhodri Jones from the RFL and Rugby League Commercial, and the Rugby League legends who showed their support, whether Ellery Hanley or Jamie Jones-Buchanan in the flesh, or Wally Lewis from long distance.

“To have raised a sum approaching £50,000 on the night went way beyond anything we have achieved before, and will make a significant difference to the support we can provide to our long-term beneficiaries, in addition to leaving us better prepared whenever we are required.

“We were also pleased to host three of the latest inductees to the RFL’s Roll of Honour for their services to the sport – Gerry Kershaw, Paul Sykes and Trevor Hunt.”