Rugby league pays tribute to the woman who got players back to work

The Rugby League Cares head of welfare retired this week after almost four decades of full-time service to the game.

She joined the RFL in 1983 and worked as head of player personnel, administration executive, operations director and also led its safeguarding policy.

But player welfare is perhaps where Rosewarne – who moved to charity Rugby League Cares last year – has made her biggest contribution to the sport.

Doncaster forward Boyle, 32, is one of many players who praised her influence following the announcement. He told The Yorkshire Post: “I’d re-signed back at Cas and had an ACL reconstruction in 2014 so I wanted to get my mind back working again.

“When you’re playing rugby, you fall out of that learning environment. I started off by meeting Julie Measures and went through some plans with her. She was great and helped me on the next steps. I went back to night college and did my GCSEs again.

“I left Cas halfway through 2016 and signed (part-time) with Halifax. I did a community job with them for a year but after that I thought ‘what do I do now?’

“I was creeping up to 30 years old. My old Cas team-mate Kirk Dixon has a really successful family business and he helped me out. I went to do a full plumbing apprenticeship and that’s when we got the ball rolling with Emma.

“She was the person you went to. She could get you answers whether it was funding through the RL Cares charity – as the courses do cost money – or just the best advice.

“She pointed you in the right direction and was the spearhead person. She could give us the answers we needed and helped put plans in place for the me to start learning again. She really has been invaluable to so many.”

former Great Britain stand-off Leon Pryce, Halifax’s former Huddersfield Giants winger Jodie Broughton – who played alongside Boyle at Salford Red Devils – and current Castleford wideman James Clare were others who thanked Rosewarne on social media.

She will continue to work one day each week for the RFL in a new role as medical co-ordinator, working with clubs and other stakeholders to drive forward medical standards in the game.

Tony Adams MBE has worked especially closely with Rosewarne in the establishment of close links between his Sporting Chance charity and the sport.

That led the former Arsenal and England captain’s election as RFL president last year.

Adams said: “Emma Rosewarne embodies all that has been good in the development of player welfare in sport over the last two decades.

“At Sporting Chance, we have been privileged to be part of this journey with her over the last ten years.

“I have no hesitation in suggesting that this unsung hero has been one of the most influential women in sport in my lifetime.

“Her work has not only changed lives; it has saved them.

“Rugby League is a tough, uncompromising sport, played by tough men and women. Creating a safe and professional place for these warriors to speak has been our work.

“The legacy of Emma Rosewarne will live on in rugby league and in all sports that choose to learn from this great sport for generations. Thank you.”

Leeds-born Boyle has urged others to make use of the services on offer from Rugby League Cares and the RFL.

“It was quite hard at first sitting in college with 16 year-old kids who’d just left school,” he recalled.

“I’d been playing rugby for the last 10 years and was older than my tutor!

“But I’m fully qualified as a plumber now and am just on with my gas qualifications.

“In terms of what RL Cares, Emma and Julie have done for me it’s been massive.

“They really helped me out and I say it to a lot of players now; while you’re playing they need to speak to people like Emma who have the time, experience and access to funding to help them get a trade.

“More people need to use them as you are only as good as your last contract. Emma was great.”