We Attended Super League Season launch

With the 2026 Betfred Super League season officially kicking off this week, Community Integrated Care was proud to attend the competitions’ Season Launch event in Manchester on 4th February 2026.

As a Super League’s Official Social Care Partner, colleagues and people supported by Community Integrated Care joined the event, which celebrated the 30th anniversary of the formation of Super League and looked ahead to another season.

This event marked a special moment for Matt Price – a member of Community Integrated Care’s Support Squad – a team of experts by experience, who use their skills and lived insight to support a more inclusive and accessible sporting system.

Matt has gained deep independence and skills through the charity’s partnership in Rugby League – from building life-skills in our Inclusive Volunteering™ programme with the Rugby League World Cup and stepping out on the pitch as part of our very own Community Integrated Care Learning Disability Super League.

In recent years, Matt has secured paid employment, married his partner, secured his own home, and built a business – building upon the confidence and talents he has cultivated with Community Integrated Care’s work in rugby league.

Matt had the chance to put these skills to practice, and build on his media abilities, working alongside professional journalists, interviewing some of the sport’s biggest names ahead of the season opener between York Knights and Hull KR on 12th February.

The experience gave Matt the opportunity to reconnect with Wigan Warriors Head Coach, Matt Peet. Two years ago, Peet sent Matt a personalised commendation recognising his outstanding achievements when he completed a work experience placement with Wigan Warriors’ media team – working at a live Super League event.

Hearing how Matt has continued to grow in independence and confidence thanks to the opportunities created through our partnership, Peet was delighted to catch up and celebrate his progress. He said: “It is brilliant to reconnect. Matt’s achievements are a credit to him. We can all put experiences out to people, but it’s Matt who has grabbed them with both hands and worked hard. I am sure what he has achieved will inspire other people at Community Integrated Care.”

Reflecting on the day, Matt Price said: “I felt so proud to be working at such a major event. The independence I’ve gained through the charity has made opportunities like this possible for me, and it was awesome to meet some of my sporting heroes who I’d usually be cheering on from the stands!

The skills and confidence that I have gained in Community Integrated Care’s partnership with Rugby League have changed my life, and helped me to make a difference myself –as a mentor to others and advisor for inclusion in sport. The event reminded me of how special this partnership is.”

John Hughes, Director of Partnerships & Communities at Community Integrated Care said: “Congratulations to Super League on three amazing decades. It’s a privilege to stand alongside them as their Social Care Partner, and as we approach our own ten-year anniversary of working with the game, we’re incredibly proud of everything this relationship has made possible.

Seeing Matt achieve his dreams, growing in confidence, and representing our charity at such a major event is exactly what this collaboration is all about. We’d like to thank our partners in the game for so passionately supporting the impact that this partnership makes, and giving the people we support a platform to share their talents and shine.”