Former Wigan Warriors star helping hospice from Down Under

Ex-Warriors prop forward Ryan Sutton, who currently plays for the Canberra Raiders in Australia’s National Rugby League (NRL), is auctioning a pair of his match boots in aid of Wigan and Leigh Hospice (WLH).

The former Ince Rose Bridge junior recently lost a close family member to cancer but Covid restrictions mean he has spent limited time with his relatives in England.

And the gesture from a player now playing rugby league on the other side of the world has certainly been appreciated at the hospice’s Kildare Street headquarters.

Sophie Cannon, fund-raising manager for WLH, said: “Our thoughts go out to Ryan and his whole family at this very sad time.

“It has been a really challenging year financially for the hospice as our shops have been shut for much of the last year and most of our fundraising events have been cancelled.

“Even though Ryan is thousands of miles away he is able to help because of his fantastic idea to auction off his boots.

“Gestures like this are very much appreciated and we hope the auction goes really well.”

The auction was highlighted on Canberra Raiders’ official website and featured a link to Sutton speaking about his fund-raising for the hospice on a club podcast.

The 25-year-old dedicated his NRL first try of the year to his grieving mum earlier this month, when he scored against the Gold Coast Titans.

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