With a squad ranging in age from 36 to 78, Doncaster Toll Bar Masters rugby league team champions friendship, inclusion and the love of the game beyond competition and scores.

Doncaster Toll Bar Masters Rugby League team is challenging traditional views of the sport by emphasising enjoyment, friendship and inclusivity over competition. With players ranging in age from 36 to 78, the team features a mix of former professional athletes, amateur players returning to the game, and complete beginners. Remarkably, every match played officially ends in a 0–0 draw, highlighting that the focus is on participation rather than winning.
Masters Rugby League is a modified version of the sport designed specifically for those aged 35 and over. It adapts rules and contact levels according to age, allowing players to continue enjoying rugby league well beyond the typical retirement age. Doncaster Toll Bar Masters, now in its seventh year, has grown into one of the country’s most prominent Masters teams, attracting 87 players over time and maintaining a large squad despite challenges faced by similar teams elsewhere.
In 2026 alone, 46 different players represented the club across 17 fixtures, including trips to London, Blackpool, Catterick and Cumbria. The team also took part in four Masters festivals and saw eight players make their Masters debuts, with two earning international recognition. This success reflects the team’s commitment to inclusivity and community.
The team’s composition is notably diverse. Former Doncaster favourites such as Kevin Jones, Steward Piper and David Noble play alongside newcomers who have never experienced rugby league before. Coached by Neil Turner, a respected former Hull FC and Doncaster player, the squad embraces all skill levels without trials or performance pressure. The emphasis is on showing up, engaging with the team, and enjoying the experience.
Players vary widely in fitness and ability, with some still quick on their feet and others less mobile. Yet the shared sense of belonging and camaraderie remains constant. The social side of Masters Rugby League is equally important, with players bonding over post-match conversations, trips away and mutual support. This social connection is especially valuable for men as they age, providing a network that extends beyond the pitch.
Neil Pease, a Toll Bar Masters player who first played for the club in the early 1990s, describes the emotional significance of returning to the sport: “When I stopped playing rugby league, it genuinely felt like a bereavement. Something that had been such an important part of my life had suddenly disappeared. It wasn’t just the rugby I missed. It was the dressing room, the friendships, the anticipation of matchday and the pride of representing a club that meant so much to me.”
He adds, “Masters has given me, and so many others, something we thought we had lost forever. To pull on a Toll Bar shirt again, run out alongside your teammates and enjoy being part of a rugby league team is something quite special. But what I love just as much is seeing somebody who has never played rugby league before joining us and discovering exactly those same feelings for the first time.”
Beyond the personal fulfilment, Masters Rugby League offers important benefits for physical health, mental wellbeing and combating social isolation. As people age, opportunities for team sports often diminish, but Masters provides a safe, welcoming environment to stay active, meet new people and maintain a sense of purpose.
The Rugby Football League recently recognised Doncaster Toll Bar’s contribution by awarding the club permanent hosting rights for the Yorkshire Masters Festival, an event that draws teams nationwide and supports the club financially. This acknowledgment underscores the team’s growing reputation within the national Masters community.
The Masters team also helps preserve the club’s heritage through its annual Past versus Present fixture, allowing former players from different eras to safely return to the field and celebrate the club’s history.
Doncaster Toll Bar Masters exemplify how rugby league can remain a lifelong pursuit, accessible to all regardless of age or prior experience. The team’s ethos centres on participation, enjoyment and respect, with adapted rules ensuring safety and inclusivity.
For anyone over 35 interested in rugby league, whether experienced or new to the sport, Doncaster Toll Bar Masters offer a welcoming community and a chance to rediscover or discover the joys of the game. As Neil Pease encourages, “If you are over 35 and fancy giving it a go, come along. You will be made very welcome.”
At Doncaster Toll Bar Masters, the scoreboard may always read nil-nil, but the true victories lie in friendship, inclusion and the shared love of rugby league.