Masters Rugby League reaches an exciting milestone in its comeback season at the seaside this Saturday (11 September), when more than 400 players from 27 teams descend upon Blackpool’s Stanley Park.

The Masters National Festival is the culmination of a hugely successful return to action for this social form of the game for men aged 35 and over and women aged 30 and over, following the enforced cancellation of the entire 2020 season due to the pandemic.

And there’ll be an extra-special Blackpool welcome for Hull and Great Britain Masters’ Freddie South, as he completes a 140-mile fundraising walk from east Hull ahead of the first game at 12noon. Freddie is raising funds to ensure that every Masters teams has its own potentially life-saving defibrillator. Masters Rugby League have also secured some support from the Rugby League Benevolent Fund.

Masters Chair, Martin Flynn, says: “We are delighted to have the opportunity to get together with our old friends and the many new friends who are playing Masters for the first time this year. The 2021 National Festival looks set to be the biggest we have ever held and should create a memorable occasion for those attending from all over the country.

Freddie South of Hull Masters sets off this morning to walk 140 miles from Hull to the Masters Festival at Blackpool Sat on 11th Sept raising money to help buy defibrillators for #mastersrugbyleague clubs. Please give generously it could help save a lifehttps://t.co/wQTiZEShzu

— Masters Rugby League (@MastersRugbyL) September 3, 2021

“Especially important this year is supporting the work that Freddie South of Hull Masters is doing to help Masters teams raise money to buy potential lifesaving defibrillators. Masters are delighted to be working with the Rugby League Benevolent Fund and the Danny Jones Fund to part-fund up to 10 defibrillators for our clubs.

“I hope all who are attending the festival, and the wider Masters community, will get behind Freddie’s fund raising efforts and I am looking forward to seeing many you in Blackpool on Saturday.”

Masters is a modified version of Rugby League, where the level physical contact depends on a player’s age, and where the emphasis is on having fun and making friends on and of the pitch. An explanatory animation is available online.

Anybody wanting to get involved should visit mastersrugbyleague.org.uk or email info@mastersrugbyleague.org.uk for more information. On Saturday, individuals can register to play on the day for a festival-friendly £5 only. The full itinerary is available online.

For more information about Freddie South’s fundraising walk and how to support it, visit Freddie Walks to Blackpool for Defibrillators – Masters Rugby League