by The RFU Injured Players Foundation has announced Sir Bill Beaumont as its new Patron along with an excellent support squad.
The former British and Irish and England Lions captain and current World Rugby Chairman will begin his tenure as Patron of the IPF this month, running both roles concurrently until his second term in charge of the world game comes to an end in November.
Sir Bill will be joined by a team of equally high profile rugby figures who will support the charity’s ambition to raise awareness of its essential work amongst the rugby community.
Those already signed up to the squad include: Jason Robinson, Danielle Waterman, Mike Brown, Topsy Ojo, Emily Scarratt, Jonny Wilkinson, Katy Daley-McLean, Austin Healey, David Flatman, David Barnes, Maggie Alphonsi, Alex Sanderson , Sarah Hunter, Wayne Barnes, Luke Pearce, and Nick Mullins.
The IPF is a charity that supports players at all levels of the game, from grassroots to professional rugby, who have suffered a catastrophic spinal cord or traumatic brain injury while playing rugby union in England.
Beaumont said: “I am honored to have been asked to be the Patron of the RFU Injured Players’ Foundation, a charity that represents the spirit of rugby to me.
“Rugby is about people. It’s a sport built on so many great values, but at the heart of that is the rugby family.
“It’s always comforting to know that when you’re facing big challenges in life, your rugby community can rally around you. Fortunately, these types of injuries are still very rare in our sport, so most players will not have to come into contact with the IPF.
“However, it is important for them to know that the charity is there to help in the unlikely event of a catastrophic injury, and will continue to support a player and their family for life.
“Rugby will never stand for the welfare of the players. My focus as Patron will be on the great work that has been achieved so far to bring together Foundations, Governing Bodies, and medical experts from different countries to share knowledge and research results as well as to develop successful models of support for catastrophic injury and a reduction in catastrophic injuries. its reasons.
“On behalf of everyone at the Injured Players Foundation, I would like to sincerely thank Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, for his leadership and support of the IPF as Patron since 2010. We appreciate the time and he has a commitment. has given to our rugby community over the years and I look forward to keeping him informed of the work of the IPF and the achievements of the players.”
Through the IPF’s range of programmes, the charity provides immediate and long-term support to players, their families and the clubs involved.
This support is available throughout life and includes working with the players’ health and social care providers to ensure they can access the support they need, ongoing rehabilitation, financial support and identification and adaptations need to identify and make their homes. The charity also provides emotional and practical support to the players’ families, enabling them to focus on looking after their loved ones.
The IPF supports players to return to work or education, reducing barriers to employment by offering vocational rehabilitation, physical and mental support to face challenges in changing roles. It funds training programs or needed office adaptations as part of its support packages. This is a very successful program with 76% of IPF clients employed or in voluntary roles or education compared to a national average of 37% for those with spinal cord injuries.
Another key focus for the charity is working with relevant partners to support research, which aims to reduce the incidence or impact of catastrophic injury within rugby union and find ways to improve the lives of individuals with traumatic spinal cord injuries or brain killed by them.
Sarah Hunter, England Rugby’s most capped player, explained why she was so keen to join the IPF squad, saying: “The work the IPF does for players on every level of the game and their friends and families unmatched and it is important that we do so. as many people as possible are aware of the charity, so players who have suffered catastrophic injuries are able to access the support they need.”
Stephen Pearson, Chair of IPF Trustees, said: “I echo Bill’s heartfelt thanks to the Duke of Sussex for his wonderful support of the charity. I was lucky enough to see firsthand how his compassion and encouragement helped players. We warmly welcome Sir Bill Beaumont as our new Patron along with a very exciting support squad. With Bill’s already extensive legacy across the world and domestic game, he is the perfect man to lead us into a new era.”
