Andrea Dobson awarded MBE in 2025 New Years Honours list
31/12/2024
Eagles Foundation Development Manager Andrea Dobson has been awarded the MBE in the 2025 New Years Honours list for her services to Rugby League.
Andrea joined the Eagles Foundation in May 2021 and has led the day-to-day growth of the Foundation’s activities which now sees Sheffield Eagles boast three Wheelchair teams, two Women’s teams, one of the country’s largest Learning Disability Rugby League sections and leads on several other programmes for the Foundation, including the delivery of Ahead Of The Game mental fitness training to over 2,000 young people in South Yorkshire each year.
Prior to her involvement in the game in Sheffield, Andrea enjoyed a stellar Rugby League playing career; making her debut for Great Britain at just 16 years’ old, she represented GB at the 2003 Women’s Rugby League World Cup before being selected for England for the 2008, 2013 and 2017 events, being named captain for the 2017 competition. In 2019 when she announced her international retirement, Andrea had amassed a record-breaking 24 international caps making her England’s most experienced international player of all time, a record which has only recently been surpassed.
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 international fixtures and was part of the commentary team at the recent Rugby League World Cup, commentating on all three elements – the men’s, women’s and wheelchair - of the tournament.
“I am very proud to be recognised in the New Years Honours” Andrea said. “Rugby League has been a huge part of my life, as a player, a coach, a volunteer and now in a professional capacity and it’s a game I love, and to be recognised by His Majesty for doing something that I love is also very humbling. Rugby League, particularly the women’s game, does not always enjoy the profile or recognition that it deserves and in accepting my honour, I hope that it also brings some wider recognition to our game and to all those who give their time to make it a success at all levels.”
Since retiring internationally, Andrea continued to coach and play for Featherstone Rovers in the Women’s Super League, before she eventually retired and handed over the coaching reigns in 2022. After a period of maternity leave, Andrea has since supported the Sheffield Eagles Women’s team in a coaching capacity, and she will now move into the role of Head Coach for the 2025 season.
“On behalf of everyone at both the Eagles Foundation and Sheffield Eagles, I would like to congratulate Andrea on her recognition in the New Years Honours list” added David Butler, Chair of the Eagles Foundation’s Trustees.
“Since we re-commenced the Foundation’s activities in 2021, Andrea has been at the forefront of most of the developments within the Foundation and is both a committed ambassador and practitioner of Rugby League in the city of Sheffield and beyond. Her recognition is obviously of huge personal pride to her, but I am sure it will also be of huge pride to her family who have also made many sacrifices to allow her to achieve so much in our game on the international stage. and I am sure everyone who knows her will be thrilled to hear of this award.”
In 2023, Andrea was added to the RFL’s Roll of Honour which was introduced in 2003 and currently recognises 53 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.
“Andrea Dobson was a true trailblazer of Women’s Rugby League in the years before the foundation of the Women’s Super League”, said Tony Sutton, the Chief Executive of the Rugby Football League.
“She made her Great Britain debut as a 16-year-old in 2003, holds England Heritage Number 8 after playing in the first England Women’s international in 2007, and went on to play in four World Cups. She has continued to drive Rugby League forwards, especially the Women’s and Girls’ game, in her role with the Sheffield Eagles Foundation.”
Everyone associated with Sheffield Eagles and the Eagles Foundation would like to congratulate Andrea on this brilliant news.
