We often talk about being part of a family in rugby. A community that supports each other through the good times and the bad.
Sometimes this may sound like a cliché, but when you speak to people who are going through the toughest of times, they assure you the rugby community does show up.
As Red Rose front row Sarah Bern showed this month, it doesn’t matter whether you play for your country or for your local team, you’re part of the same rugby family.
Sarah heard that 12-year-old Red Roses’ fan Tilly was going through a difficult time. Her dad recently sustained a potential life-changing injury while playing rugby, so Sarah recorded a message of support to let Tilly know the Red Roses were thinking of her and sending their love.
Small acts of kindness can often have a big impact as Tilly explains, “I couldn’t believe it when I received the video. I think I just squealed. Sarah and Hannah Botterman are my favourite players, so to receive a message from Sarah meant so much to me.
“To know she’d heard about my dad and cared, even though she’s never met us, was amazing.”
Tilly was also invited to be a mascot at Ashton Gate for the Red Roses' match against Wales. She was ‘gutted not to be able to make it, but so grateful for the opportunity.’
Tilly was already committed to playing for her rugby club that day and didn't want to let her team mates down. It’s good to see the Oadby Wyggs U12 player, who is determined to be a Red Rose herself one day, has her priorities straight!
As Sarah pointed out in her video message, Tilly knows her family is being looked after by the RFU Injured Players Foundation (IPF) and so is in good hands.
The IPF supports players at any level of the game who have sustained an acute life-changing injury while playing rugby union in England.
Thankfully, such injuries are extremely rare in the sport. However, if an accident does happen, the IPF is on hand to provide wide-ranging support for the injured player and their family for life if needed.
Alongside emotional, financial and practical support such as additional rehabilitation, housing adaptations or specialised equipment, the Foundation works hard to keep players connected to the game and part of the rugby family when they can no longer play.
Watching a game together in the IPF Box at the Allianz Stadium, Twickenham, is one way in which the Foundation does this and it’s a highlight for many IPF Members.
Joanne, who sustained a spinal injury in 2021, enjoyed the Red Roses match against Ireland a couple of weeks ago and explains how valuable the rugby support network has been to her.
“The RFU Injured Players Foundation has supported me in more ways than I could ever have dreamed of,” she says. “You can't put a price on those precious people who help you.
“You feel like you’ve lost your identify when you can no longer play rugby, and that you’re cut off from the world.
“But just when you think you've lost everything, the IPF are there for you and fill the gap, if not more. The Injured Players Foundation welcome you in and it's like being part of a team again, with the same camaraderie.
“People who were previously strangers become your family and friends, and then you become happy again and you find your identity again.
“It was the support from the Injured Players Foundation that re-lit my spark for rugby and gave me hope again. It was like a new flame ignited because I had this new rugby family.”
The RFU Injured Players Foundation has created an IPF Squad of well-known rugby personalities who volunteer their time in support of the Foundation and its members.
At the Ireland match, guests enjoyed meeting RWC winner and IPF Ambassador Katy Daley-McLean.
“When Katy comes in and recognises you it's absolutely nuts,” says Joanne, who also hails from the North-East.
“She supports us and knows all about the charity. You can tell she really cares. If you look on social media, you see so many people in the rugby community backing the Foundation. Everyone’s supporting each other. “
As part of the IPF Squad, Katy loves meeting IPF Members and being able to give back to the game that has given her so much.
“It’s an amazing experience meeting the families and the people that have been affected and hearing their stories.
“It's brilliant to know they have a charity like the Injured Players Foundation that can support them and I'm grateful to be part of it.
“The IPF creates a community and a support network for people who sometimes are at the lowest point of their lives and helps them through it.”
At the match, Katy also discovered that another IPF Member, Amy, had gone to the same college as her – Houghall College, East Durham - and was inspired by her story.
Not only has Amy completed the London Marathon for the IPF, and excelled at para ice hockey, she has recently been selected as part of the GB para curling pathway squad.
“Being part of this pathway could potentially lead to the Winter Paralympic Games in 2030,” says Amy.
“There’s obviously a long way to go yet and there's a lot of training ahead, but that’s the ultimate dream and I’m really excited about getting stuck in and seeing what’s possible.”
As Amy explains, for many IPF members a lot of the confidence to try knew sports stems from the support they have received from the Injured Players Foundation, and a shared focus on what can be done, not what can’t.
“The IPF are like cheerleaders in your corner. When you say, ‘I think I might want to try this,’ they reply, ‘well let’s do it, where there's a will there’s a way!’ Then everything else follows.
“It’s created a network of people who just get it and who also share a common love for rugby. Everybody is in the same bubble.
“Being part of the rugby community doesn't stop when you’re not on the pitch. There’s still that community, there’s still that family and that will always exist.
“The Foundation is also there for you in your day-to-day life. They’ve supported me with my housing, making sure that my wheelchair is suitable for daily use. They've supported me when I had a little boy, making sure I had the right equipment to be able to be a parent and be independent."
Inspired by the Red Roses crocheting campaign during the world cup, Amy created a gift for members of her IPF family attending the RWC Final.
Her roses proved such a hit on social media that Amy received an order to create a bunch of 12 twelve for someone’s wedding!
Having followed the Roses for decades, being part of the record-breaking crowd at the Allianz Stadium a fortnight ago was a special occasion for Amy.
“I love coming to watch the Roses,” she says. I was stood in the sheds on the side of pitches watching England play where there were 20 of us, so to be at the Allianz Stadium with 75,000 people watching women's sport is just amazing.
“The game’s continuing to grow after the Rugby World Cup you and the atmosphere is incredible. It makes me emotional to see so many more people now loving the game that I've always loved.”
Two other Red Roses stars who have played an instrumental role in that growth are now part of the Roses coaching team.
Sarah Hunter and Emily Scarratt are also members of the IPF Squad and have attended many events to support injured players and help raise awareness of the charity.
Last year Sarah cheered on IPF members and fundraisers running the London Marathon, while Emily led a coaching session at Newark Rugby Club, inspiring the next generation of Red Roses.
Newark won the session in a prize draw connected to the IPF’s awareness survey. The survey is part of the Injured Players Foundation’s work to raise its profile within the rugby community to ensure people know how to access support if ever needed.
The Foundation is offering a similar prize draw opportunity with another IPF Ambassador this year for people who complete their survey.
Please click the IPF Survey link below to tell the IPF how much you know about them. It only takes five minutes, and you will be helping this brilliant rugby charity. Thank you!
