Rugby league coach to run Rob Burrow Leeds half-marathon in aid of player badly hurt during game

Ethan Montgomery, of Leeds community club Drighlington, was left unable to move, with no feeling from the neck down, following a tackle. He was rushed to Leeds General Infirmary where scans showed no fractures in his spine and his spinal cord remains intact, but he remains in hospital and faces a long road back to health.

Montgomery’s club say he has since regained movement in his arms and is slowly beginning to recover feeling in his legs, but is still unable to move his legs or feet. His coach, Nathan Hallas, will run this weekend’s 13.1-mile course to raise money in support of Montgomery’s recovery.

A fundraising page set up by the Drighlington club said: “We’re asking anyone who can to sponsor Nathan’s run and help support Ethan, giving him the breathing space to focus fully on recovery and rehabilitation. Every donation, no matter the size, will go towards helping Ethan cover his day-to-day living costs during this time.” More than £3,000 has already been pledged and donations can be made through this link.

Meanwhile, two former semi-professional players are also among the 16,000 running on Sunday for the Rugby League Benevolent Fund to support seriously-injured players and their families.

Batley Bulldogs Hall of Fame member Danny Maun is taking part in the half-marathon while and Danny Thomas, whose clubs included Batley, Dewsbury Rams and Hunslet, will take on the full 26.2-mile route. They can be sponsored via this link.