RFU Injured Players Foundation

14th. October 2023: Before the 1st XV match against Newbury we received a plaque from Stephen Duckworth of the RFU IPF.

As you know we celebrated our Centenary Year (1923-2023) last season. Whilst we did not set out to make profit from it, we agreed to donate any surplus funds to the RFU Injured Players Fund, who did so much for our own Jack Fishwick after his serious injury, and continue to support injured players and to carry out research to help prevent further injuries.

In the end we raised over £6500 for the IPF and at the VPs' Lunch last Saturday, before the 1st XV played Newbury, we welcomed as our special guest, Stephen Duckworth, a beneficiary and Trustee of the RFUIPF.

Stephen is local to Salisbury (although his sons learnt their rugby at Andover!) and was seriously injured playing rugby at University at the age of 21. He was supported by the RFUIPF and now works to support them. In a short speech he spoke inspirationally about how seriously injured players are not damaged goods but very much still part of the rugby family. He is a wonderful example of that, working for the RFUIPF as he does. So is Jack Fishwick who still supports Wimbledon RFC, for whom he was playing when injured, by arranging annual Touch and other tournaments which raise some £20000pa for the RFUIPF.

Stephen presented us with a shield from the RFUIPF acknowledging our support. He then further entertained us by being rude about the length of my introductory words (harsh) and about the shortness of our Chairman (true). He also surprised the Newbury officials by thanking them for agreeing to raise money for the IPF next season. It was news to them ... but he has sown the seed! He was great company and I hope we might be able to invite him back next season as a guest at a VPs' Lunch, and perhaps donate the raffle proceeds to the RFUIPF.

The RFU's Touchline online magazine included a nice article about the RFUIPF and our fundraising efforts, you can find it here: https://www.englandrugby.com/news/article/centenary-year-sees-sailsbury-rfc-support-ipf

Report: Richard Larcombe, SRFC President

Photo: John Palmer