Andrea Dobson Added To RFL Roll Of Honour

14/12/2023

Andrea Dobson, the Eagles Foundation’s Rugby League Development Officer, has been added to the Rugby Football League’s Roll of Honour.

Andrea, a former England Rugby League international was, at the time of her retirement in 2019, the most capped England women’s international, a record which has only recently been surpassed.

She becomes one of 53 members of the Roll of Honour which was introduced in 2003 to recognise individuals who have made extraordinary contributions to the game across both playing and off-field service, including the exceptional commitment and achievements of leading broadcasters and journalists, players, coaches, and volunteers and features legends of the game such as Mike “Stevo” Stephenson, Ray French, Rugby League historian Prof. Tony Collins, women’s Rugby League stalwart Julia Lee and one of Andrea’s former England colleagues Natalie Gilmour. 

Since retiring from playing internationally, Andrea continued to coach and play for Featherstone Rovers in the Women’s Super League. She joined the Eagles Foundation in April 2021, having previously spent over a decade working for the RFU in South Yorkshire, and quickly set about bringing the city’s Rugby League World Cup legacy plan to life, which included the launch of the Sheffield Eagles Wheelchair, Women’s and Learning Disability Rugby League teams as well as a host of other initiatives which saw the Foundation named Foundation of the year at the 2022 Championship Awards.

“Its an honour and a privilege to be recognised in the Roll of Honour” commented Andrea. “Rugby League has given me so many opportunities – both in a playing and professional capacity – and to be included on the Roll of Honour alongside so many distinguished people has come as a great surprise!”

In addition to her hands on involvement in the game, Andrea has gained experience on the media front, providing co-commentary for several of the women’s game showpiece finals and internationalfixtures and was part of the commentary team at last year’s Rugby League World Cup, commentating on the men’s, women’s and wheelchair elements of the tournament. 

“On behalf of everyone at both the Eagles Foundation and Sheffield Eagles, I’d like to congratulate Andrea on receiving this recognition” added David Butler, Eagles Foundation Chairperson. “Andrea brings a wealth of talent and experience to the day-to-day activities that the Eagles Foundation runs and she takes an enormous amount of pride in ensuring everything runs to the high standards she herself sets. Being added to the Roll of Honour is a huge testament to Andrea’s entire career so far and we’re certainly looking forward to seeing her career continue on its upward trajectory here in Sheffield.”