The RFU Injured Players Foundation (IPF), England Rugby’s Official charity, is delighted to announce Prof Stephen Duckworth OBE, DSc, FKC(Lon), PhD, MSc, LRCP, MRCS, FDSRCS(Hon) as its new Chair.

The IPF supports players at all levels of the game from grassroots to professional, who have sustained life-changing injuries such as a catastrophic spinal cord or acute, severe traumatic brain injury whilst playing rugby union in England. The role of the Chair focuses on leading the Board of Trustees, the charity’s voluntary team of experts who guide the IPF in its support of injured players.   

A long-standing client of the IPF and a Trustee since July 2015, Stephen is perfectly placed to take over the role having extensive charity experience including acting as a Trustee for Inspire, being a friend of the Vocational Rehabilitation Association and Special Adviser to the Shaw Trust. He also holds a number of Non-Executive Director positions across a variety of industries, including for Network Rail, Palace of Westminster and Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.

Stephen has also had a very impressive career, studying medicine at Guy’s Hospital and then completing his PhD at the University of Southampton, all following his accident. He also set up his own company, Disability Matters Ltd which he was Chief Executive of for over 20 years before taking on Chief Executive roles across a number of other businesses and industries. A non-Executive Director for the Olympic Delivery Authority Stephen has an abundance of experience to bring to his new role at the IPF.

Commenting on his appointment Stephen said: “It’s a great honour to be appointed Chair of this incredible charity and for me there is no greater privilege. I have been involved for nine years now and to become the first disabled person injured through rugby to become Chair is fantastic.

“I’d like to continue the brilliant work that Stephen Pearson has achieved in his time in the role and start delivering additional elements as there is still so much more for us to do as a charity.

“One of my main areas of focus as I take on the role will be about raising awareness of the IPF and the amazing work the charity does to support players, as well as driving change with regards the perception of disabled people within wider society, proving how valuable we are. We will continue to put our clients at the heart of all decisions we make, and I’ll be working hard with the wider team to ensure the IPF continues to help our clients grow in their lives, find their personal ambition, have families and secure employment by providing and finding opportunities.

“Rugby is a family. I would never try and persuade people not to play our sport because of my accident. I’m more likely to get injured on the way to the game than I am playing the sport itself. As injured players we are a valuable part of that family and are proud to be so, and that family is strong.”

Stephen Duckworth will assume the role from Stephen Pearson, who has been in post since 2020, having joined the IPF as a Trustee in 2013.

During Pearson’s tenure, the charity has grown exponentially, fully cementing the charity’s links with the RFU to enable swift support to players who need it. He has also overseen a drive to provide funding in order to expand the IPF’s research programme. This research is aimed at preventing and managing spinal cord and acute severe traumatic brain injuries with success in this area having a direct, positive impact on the independence of IPF clients. The IPF recently announced a three-year partnership with Brain Research UK to fund projects which will help improve the charity’s knowledge and understanding of the complexities of severe, acute traumatic brain and spinal cord injuries.

Stephen Pearson commented: “It has been such an honour to serve as IPF Chair for the last four years.

“We have made great progress in that time across key focus areas, most notably in our research programme, which not only benefits our clients, but also wider society as well.

“I believe with Stephen Duckworth as the new Chair, well-supported by a fantastic team of Trustees and exceptional workforce alongside our newly appointed Patron, Sir Bill Beaumont, the charity is in the best hands to continue to move forwards.

“I’d like to place on record my thanks to everyone who supported me whilst Chair and who have all contributed to put the charity in the position it is in today. I’m looking forward to watching and supporting its continued progress.”

Karen Hood IPF Director added: “I’d like to thank Stephen Pearson for his dedication and drive during his tenure as Chair. Together we have made great strides and achieved such a lot, setting a clear strategic direction for our rugby charity which provides invaluable support for players at all levels of the game in England. The charity is financially strong and was able to increase its engagement with our beneficiaries through covid which puts us in a great position to commit to life-long support of the IPF clients

“I’m very excited to now work with Stephen Duckworth to continue to deliver our strategic aims and keep working hard to support all of our clients in achieving their goals”

Fellow Trustee Lee Jones also commented: “Duckers (Stephen Duckworth) is going to be an incredible Chair for the IPF. He is an individual who is infinitely intelligent, thinks outside the box and always puts IPF Clients first – their needs are at the forefront of every decision we make. I can’t think of a better person to take over as Chair.

“Stephen Pearson has been a wonderful inspiration to me in my time. I’d like to thank him for everything he has done for the charity. I would have been lost as a Trustee without his guidance and I will carry on in the vein that he has taught me. I’d like to wish him all the best for the future, and I will be on the phone to him soon as I need to learn how to run a successful rugby club!”