Shorts: MND Match, Charlton Athletic, Everton
Leeds Rhinos’ Headingley Stadium will stage a special rugby match for MND in honour of former player Rob Burrow.
Next month, on 17th November, the venue will host a unique cross-code rugby match to raise funds for Motor Neurone Disease (MND) research and support.
The event honours the legacy of Rhinos legend Burrow, who passed away in June at the age of 41. Since being diagnosed with MND in 2019, Burrow led multiple projects to raise awareness of the disease, and to raise funds for further research into the condition.
The match represents the final fundraising project he helped to organise before his death.
Former Gloucester player Ed Slater, diagnosed with MND in 2022, collaborated with Burrow to develop the event, which is named the ‘745 Game’ after the shirt numbers worn by Burrow, Slater, and Scotland rugby icon Doddie Weir, who also died from MND in 2022, aged 52.
The match, will bring together rugby union and league stars such as Danny Cipriani, Billy Twelvetrees, Tom Youngs, Keith Senior, Adrian Morley, and Danny McGuire. It will be played under custom cross-code rules, blending elements from both rugby union and rugby league.
The fixture introduces a new format, featuring 13-a-side teams, with unique rules designed specifically for this occasion. These include unlimited tackles in the team’s own half, six tackles after halfway and uncontested scrums.
Slater said, “It is brilliant that we are able to put the game on and I know all the former players I have spoken to are looking forward to putting their boots back on to support the MND community.
“It was nearly a year ago that Rob and I were talking about putting this match on and he was really excited about seeing it happen.
“I think I have got a pretty strong rugby union team lined up and I know what the boys are like once they step onto the pitch, that competitive streak will kick in and I expect a great contest as well as a brilliant occasion.”
Charlton Athletic have confirmed Westminster Waste as the new back of short sponsor for the men’s first team for the remainder of the 2024/25 season.
This partnership reflects Charlton’s commitment to sustainability and strengthens its ties with community-focused businesses.
Westminster Waste, a family-run waste management company based in Belvedere, has delivered sustainable waste solutions since 2010.
The company’s logo will feature on the back of Charlton’s shorts, with additional branding around The Valley stadium.
Barry Higson, Head of Commercial at Charlton Athletic, said, “Westminster Waste’s focus on sustainability aligns perfectly with the club’s values.
“We look forward to collaborating on initiatives that benefit both the club and the wider community.”
Everton have confirmed plans for a commemorative ‘fan wall’ at the new Everton Stadium that celebrates popular figures from the club’s history.
Titled ‘The Originals’, the artwork aims to honour Everton players who have achieved remarkable milestones while representing the club and those who have embodied the Everton spirit on and off the pitch.
Supporters from across the globe have also submitted photos for the wall, with their personal images set to create a striking fan-inspired mosaic.
The initial line-up of ‘Originals’ includes Dixie Dean, the club’s greatest-ever goalscorer, as well as Alan Ball, Howard Kendall, and Colin Harvey, and Brian Labone.
Also featured are Everton’s first black captain Kevin Campbell, the club’s record Premier League appearance maker Seamus Coleman, and Tim Cahill, a fan favourite who scored Australia’s first-ever World Cup goal during his time at the club.
Joining them are Bob Latchford, a goalscoring hero of the 1970s, and decorated 1980s duo Graeme Sharp and Neville Southall, ensuring that the wall represents names and eras that inspire all generations of Evertonians.
Everton Stadium, located at Bramley-Moore Dock, is set to open for the 2025/26 season.
In the coming seasons, Toffees supporters will have the opportunity to participate in selecting additional players and club names to join ‘The Originals’ wall, with the mosaic set to expand, creating more opportunities for fans to contribute to the very fabric of the club’s 52,888-capacity home.
Places on the Fan Wall, priced at £45 per photo, have gone on sale and a variety of keepsake mementos have also been made available, starting from £30.
London Youth Rowing (LYR) has appointed Andy Mitchell CBE as the sports charity’s new Chair.
The incumbent CEO of Tideway, Mitchell was elected as the organisation’s new Chair at its recent Annual General Meeting (AGM).
Mitchell previously serves as Co-Chair of the Construction Leadership Council between 2018 and 2022.
“I have long admired LYR’s approach as they extend their positive impact on young people across the UK and I look forward to working with my fellow Trustees, the LYR team and our stakeholders to continue that vital work,” Mitchell said.
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