Ex-international player will be guest of honour at Vale of Lune charity night

A former dual-code international is coming to Vale of Lune RUFC later this month as part of a charity night.

John Bentley, who represented England in both rugby union and rugby league, and British & Irish Lions in rugby union, will be the guest speaker at Powder House Lane on Friday, January 19.

Doors will be open from 7pm for a 7.30pm start, and the evening will include a three course meal, an auction, raffle prizes and games.

The dress code is jackets and collared shirts.

The cost for the night is £45 per person, with all proceeds going to the My Name’5 Doddie Foundation and SOS Kit Aid.

The My Name’5 Doddie Foundation is a charity that funds research to find treatments to motor neurone disease.

It was set up by, and in the name of, the late former rugby union player Doddie Weir in 2017.

Weir passed away in November 2022 after a six-year battle with MND. 

SOS Kit Aid is a charity that re-distributes second-hand rugby kits to disadvantaged young players.

Around 250,000 young people have benefitted as a result.

The charity also helps to protect the environment by recycling the kits rather than them going to a landfill site.

John Bentley started as a rugby union player, playing for Otley and Sale Sharks before the age of 21, when he made his international rugby union debut for England.

He then changed codes to rugby league, playing for Leeds Rhinos for four years before joining Halifax Panthers.

He had two spells at Panthers, one between 1992 and 1996 - during which he briefly played for Australian rugby league side Balmain Tigers - and the other in 1998, for a short period, before moving to Huddersfield Giants in 1999.

At international rugby league level, he represented England and Great Britain.

Bentley returned to rugby union in between his two spells at Halifax, signing for Newcastle Falcons and later playing for Rotherham Titans. 

He played for the British and Irish Lions team on their tour of South Africa in 1997, making two Test appearances.

To find out more and to book tickets or a full table for the evening, contact Karan Banga on either 01524 64029, 07508 589088 or valeoflunegm@outlook.com.