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One of the most influential figures in the history of women’s rugby league, Andrea Dobson is the latest hero to join Rugby League Cares’s 2024 fundraising challenge, the Wild Atlantic Adventure.
Andrea, who was capped 30 times by England and Great Britain during an illustrious 16-year international career, will join a star-studded line up for the 300-mile cycle ride along Ireland’s rugged southern coastline in June.
The 37-year-old former Featherstone Rovers player now works as rugby development officer for the Sheffield Eagles Foundation and will be joined on the ride by current Eagles player Capucine Auger, a French-born forward who has become a key figure in the South Yorkshire club’s front row.
Both women are taking on the rigorous challenge of the charity’s annual bike ride in recognition of the important work RL Cares does supporting people in Sheffield and its wider communities.
“I did Ride to Wembley with RL Cares in 2019 but that was a long time ago, I’ve had another child since then and I’m five years older so I’m expecting this to be incredibly tough,” said Andrea.
“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.”
Andrea made her international debut as a 16-year-old and went on to play in four World Cups, the last of them ion 2017 as England captain. She is the only woman to feature in the Featherstone Rovers Hall of Fame and in 2023 her wider contribution to the sport was recognised when she was added to the RFL Roll of Honour.
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.
