The RFU Injured Players Foundation (IPF), England Rugby’s official charity, launched their Club Tour with an event held at Lymm RFC on Wednesday 11th June. IPF ambassadors Nick Mullins and Jason Robinson headlined the evening and discussed all things rugby with a focus on this summer’s forthcoming British and Irish Lions Tour, as well as sharing their personal reasons for supporting the charity.

Lymm RFC Club President John Cartwright kicked off proceedings by welcoming everyone to the club marquee, before IPF Patron Sir Bill Beaumont took to the stage to add his personal thanks for coming.

John commented: “We were so proud to host this event at Lymm RFC and welcome Jason Robinson and the IPF back to our home.

“We have seen first-hand the impact of the IPF and their support following our team-mate Alex’s injury which was sustained here 13 years ago. His recovery has inspired us all and we are so grateful to the IPF for what they did then for Alex and his family, and what they continue to do across the game.

“It was a brilliant evening, and we were delighted to play a role in the delivery of that.”

IPF Director Dr Karen Hood and Welfare Officer John Burgess joined Nick Mullins and IPF Member Alex Bennett on stage to talk more about how the charity supports players who have sustained a life-changing injury while playing rugby union in England. Alex captivated everyone in the audience when he shared his personal story and his inspiring recovery since sustaining a spinal cord injury in 2012.

The IPF team discussed the charity’s role which includes providing immediate support in hospital as well as emotional, financial and practical assistance enabling families to focus on supporting their loved one. They also touched on the IPF’s purpose and why now is the time to drive awareness of its essential support, emphasized by just over half of the people in the room knowing who the IPF was before the evening started.

The trio also highlighted the incredible achievements of some of the charity’s players including those who take on amazing physical challenges such as representing Great Britain in Wheelchair Rugby or climbing Mount Kilimanjaro; those who excel in the workplace by running their own companies or such as Alex who is Chief Growth Officer for a global business consulting and services firm; as well as those who have smashed through the everyday barriers to living independently or starting family life.

“It was brilliant to come to Lymm RFC today and spread further awareness of the incredible work of the IPF,” commented Karen Hood. “I’d like to thank our ambassadors Jason Robinson and Nick Mullins as well as our Patron Sir Bill Beaumont for supporting the event and for helping us share our purpose and ambition with more of the rugby community, and also Lymm RFC for hosting us.

“We achieve a great deal as a very small team and our bespoke approach ensures that we put each individual player at the heart of the support we offer to enable them to live the life they wish to lead. This wouldn’t be possible without the support of the rugby community, and we continue to be so grateful for that.”

After a short break England and Lions legend Jason Robinson was welcomed to the stage for a chat with Nick Mullins about his rugby career, his involvement with the IPF and what compelled him to launch his own charity, The Jason Robinson Foundation. As well as chatting between themselves, Jason also took questions from the floor, ranging from whether he preferred league or union, to his proudest moment on a rugby pitch.

The pair were then joined by Sir Bill for a conversation focused on the forthcoming Lions Tour with both Bill and Jason regaling the crowd with tales from their experiences as tourists, both as players, and then for Bill, also as a manager. The evening concluded with all three opting for a British and Irish Lions win later this summer!

Post event Jason Robinson commented: “It was brilliant to come back to Lymm RFC tonight and spread the news and explain what support the IPF can give people who have sustained life-changing injuries playing rugby union.  One of the key things is to make sure they know if something should happen, the IPF is there for you to help you along that journey if you need them.

“I played in a fundraising game here in support of Alex. That's what we're supposed to do. If we say we’re a rugby family, we turn up when we’re needed, we look after each other and we help each other through some of the tough times.

“It was inspiring listening to Alex’s story today and some of the things they’ve gone through as a family, because he’s not let it hold him back. He's so determined, and a real character and he's achieved so much, and you know without that IPF support they probably wouldn't be able to do it.”

Details of the next IPF Club Tour event will be announced in due course.