York’s rugby league community comes together and raises thousands to help others

York’s rugby league community came together and raised thousands of pounds to help those in need.

Players representing OSCAR’s Paediatric Brain Tumour Charity took on the Rugby League Allstars for a special match at the LNER Community Stadium on Sunday, June 2 – following Knights and Valkyrie games the same day.

Cain North (left) and Wayne Godwin (right) lead out the teams (Image: OSCAR’s)

Cain North, who was diagnosed with a brain tumour last year, managed the OSCAR’s team with ex-Knights player Adam Briggs.

They were up against the Rugby League Allstars squad, with players including Rugby League Hall-Of-Famer Adrian Morley, 2013 Super League Man of Steel Danny Brough, Gareth Ellis, Graham Steadman and Wayne Godwin.

Gareth Ellis, Sean Richardson and Adrian Morley (Image: OSCAR’s)

Over £4,000 was raised for York-based OSCAR’s to support children with brain tumours and their families. A further £1,500 was raised for Hull-based children’s charity Life For A Kid.

Cain, a 23-year-old personal trainer and ex-rugby player, said he was “pleased with how the day had gone” and “thrilled that so many ex-pro and local amateur players came together to support the two great causes”.

Cain North inspiring an improved second-half performance (Image: OSCAR’s)

An OSCAR’s spokesperson said: “[Cain] added that it should be an annual event and has plans for it to be even bigger and better next year, so watch this space.”

The Press previously told how Cain was given one year to live after being diagnosed with stage four malignant glioblastoma – an aggressive, fast-growing brain tumour – and vowed to use that time to raise money for OSCAR’s.

He recently became York Knights inaugural community champion as a result of his work.

OSCAR’s Allstars line-up (Image: OSCAR’s)

Match was ‘pretty special for us all’ – OSCAR’s

Phil Martinez, OSCAR’s charity manager, said: “This rugby match was pretty special for us all, and something Cain had been wanting to organise for quite a while.

“We never expected it to be so big and for that we are unbelievably grateful for the support of the legends, the volunteers who turned out, as well as the Knights, the Valkyrie and our sponsors.”

Rugby League Allstars team (Image: OSCAR’s)

Ex-Castleford Tigers and Wigan hooker Wayne Godwin captained the Rugby League AllStars team.

“What a game. There was a fantastic turnout at a great community club like York. It is always a pleasure to take the field and help amazing charities,” he said.

After the final whistle blew, news that rugby league legend Rob Burrow had died aged 41.

Rob Burrow (Image: Zac Goodwin/PA Wire)

His death came four and half years after being diagnosed with motor neurone disease (MND).

Wayne said the players raised a glass to Rob after the match.

“It hit us all hard when we heard one of our own Rob Burrow had passed away and we raised a glass to him in the changing room. It was very fitting to all be together and we vowed to keep on putting on events like this while we can,” he said.