Hull KR and the Rugby League Benevolent Fund have today welcomed a £20,000 donation from Leeds Rhinos which provides another huge boost to Mose Masoe as the Samoan continues his inspirational recovery from serious injury.

The Rhinos pledged to donate 25% of tickets sold for their home Betfred Super League meeting against Rovers in February to the Benevolent Fund’s support of Masoe, following the injury he suffered in a pre-season fixture at Wakefield in January.

Leeds also held collections on the night of the game among their supporters and in the corporate areas at Emerald Headingley, and received further generous donations from their own playing squad and numerous other members of the club’s non-playing staff, in addition to the Leeds Players’ Association, and the Leeds Rhinos Foundation.

Rob Burrow, the Leeds legend whose response to his diagnosis with Motor Neurone Disease has been admired in Rugby League and well beyond, also insisted on making a donation from the proceeds of a Gala Dinner held at Emerald Headingley on February 7.

With the Rhinos topping up the total to £20,000, it takes the Benevolent Fund’s appeal for support for Masoe and his family into six figures – with the 30-year-old continuing his recovery in the spinal unit of Pinderfields Hospital in Wakefield.

Gary Hetherington, the Leeds chief executive, said: “In these unprecedented times for the country, it’s important that we don’t forget the battles that Mose Masoe and Rob Burrow were already facing.

“As we said before Hull KR came to Emerald Headingley in February, we wanted to give our supporters and staff the chance to show their support to Mose – and now we want to thank them for such a generous response.

“That generosity came not only from the supporters of both teams who came on the night, but also from our corporate guests, and from the Players’ Association and the Leeds Rhinos Foundation – and our players and non-rugby staff also wanted to show their support.

“It was a typically generous gesture also from Rob Burrow to think of Mose at the Gala Dinner that was arranged to support his own family.

“That means we are able to make a substantial donation to the Benevolent Fund, who do such a great job for the game under the leadership of Steve Ball. And it goes without saying that we also send our very best wishes to Mose and his family.”

Steve Ball said: “I have talked in a couple of interviews this week about Rugby League values – and this is a great example. I’d like to thank the Leeds club for allowing all the supporters who came to the game against Rovers to show their support for Mose and his family. I can assure them it will be massively appreciated, and will make a big difference.”

Neil Hudgell, the Hull KR chairman, said: “This is a fantastic gesture from Leeds and their supporters. We may be rivals on the pitch, but this sort of thing shows the game of Rugby League at its best.”