Lyne wins President award
4 Dec 2019
Super League centre Reece Lyne, has been chosen by RFL President Tony Adams as the first recipient of his RFL President’s Awards in recognition of his mentoring work with young offenders.
The RFL President’s Awards are special awards in the gift of the President and are designed to recognise inspiring work to change lives and communities through Rugby League, and achievements by players, coaches and volunteers which bring the sport to new audiences.
Tony Adams, whose own charity Sporting Chance does so much to support people within Rugby League, is committed to recognising the contribution individuals from within the game make in the world outside it.
The Wakefield Trinity centre, who is from Hull and turned 27 earlier this week, is one of several Super League players who have given time and expertise to support a ground-breaking project at Wetherby Young Offenders Institute delivered by the charity Rugby League Cares.
The programme involved players sharing their own experiences with young people and mentoring them to help improve their self-esteem and get their lives back on track.
Separately from the Rugby League Cares project, Reece has also developed a mentoring programme of his own with young offenders in Hull whose behaviour has disrupted their own lives and affected the lives of others.
RFL President Tony Adams, says: “There are times we all need someone to turn to. Reece is showing young people, at their lowest ebb, that prison isn’t the end of the world, that they can still fulfil their potential and look to a brighter future.
“When the Wetherby mentoring project was getting off the ground, Reece was identified as the kind of personality who could lead and drive the project from the players’ side. He’d already made a strong impact with young offenders in Hull so he was a natural choice. He’s passionate about what he does and driven to make a difference to young people's lives.
“For their part young people at Wetherby have learned to trust Reece and confide in him, and it’s testimony to the strength of their bond that he’s been asked to continue his support. Staff at Wetherby have noticed positive changes too since Reece has been mentoring them.
“By sharing his own experiences and listening to what worries them, Reece is making an invaluable contribution to the lives of young people. As a professional sportsman he is also building his portfolio of skills that will help equip him for a varied and successful career post-playing – something I feel really passionate about as RFL President.??
Ralph Rimmer, RFL CEO, added: "It is wonderful that Tony Adams has chosen Reece as the recipient of his first RFL President’s Award; he is a credit to himself, to Wakefield Trinity and our sport. His work reminds us of how Rugby League reaches people and communities often excluded or marginalised, and it changes lives."
