Former IPF Chair Stephen Duckworth OBE has been recognised with a second prestigious award in a matter of months.
Having recently been inducted into Kings College Hall of Fame, Stephen will be presented with an RFU Rose Award in November for his exceptional and lasting contribution to rugby and to the beneficiaries of the RFU Injured Players Foundation (IPF) – England Rugby’s official charity.
It is a fitting way to round off his inspirational term as Chair of the RFU Injured Players Foundation, a role Stephen has held since 2024 when he became the first IPF member to be appointed as chair. He was also Chair of the World Rugby Catastrophic Injuries Committee.
Stephen has been committed to improving the lives of others ever since his own catastrophic spinal cord injury, sustained at the age of 20 while playing for Guys Hospital RFC in 1981.
Having trained as a doctor, Stephen later completed a Master’s in Rehabilitation Studies and a PhD in Disability and Equality.
He also went on to hold Non-Exec Board level positions at organisations including Network Rail, the Palace of Westminster and Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.
Whether through Disability Matters, university work, NHS governance or health and safety roles, Stephen has spent much of his working life trying to ensure that systems work better for people with disabilities.
His appointment as an IPF Trustee in July 2015 allowed him to support the work of England Rugby’s charity through his professional insight and personal perspective as a beneficiary of the Foundation.
This unique combination has enabled Stephen to champion initiatives that prioritise injured player welfare and independence.
Stephen’s advocacy for vocational programmes has been particularly impactful, ensuring injured players are supported not only in recovery, but in building meaningful and fulfilling futures.
The Foundation is proud of the impact the right support can have in a person’s life, with 76% of IPF members being employed, in voluntary roles or education compared to a national average employment of 37% for those living with spinal cord injuries.
Speaking about his RFU Rose Award, Stephen said: “To be recognised in this way is a great honour. I am genuinely moved and deeply grateful to RFU Council and to everyone who has supported the Injured Players Foundation over so many years.
“I receive the award with gratitude, but also with a strong sense that it reflects the work of many people: the IPF staff, Trustees, volunteers, clinicians, case managers, supporters, families and, most importantly, the injured players themselves. Their courage, honesty and determination have taught me far more than I could ever have taught them.
“Rugby has given me friendship, purpose and a continuing sense of belonging. To have had the opportunity to give something back to the game has been an immense privilege.
“It has been one of the greatest honours of my life to serve as Trustee and most recently Chair of the RFU Injured Players Foundation.”
Stephen went on to explain the significant role the IPF can play in helping an injured player rebuild their life, saying: “As an injured person, I know that catastrophic injury does not end when the hospital episode ends. It continues into the practical business of living: housing, equipment, care, transport, work, confidence, family life, loneliness, humour, frustration, purpose and dignity.
“The IPF has always understood that truth. At its best, it does not offer sympathy from a distance. It offers practical, lifelong, loyal support.
“The IPF provides quiet reassurance that an injured player and their family have not been forgotten. There is support there for them for life if needed. That matters more than words can easily express.
“I have always tried to turn personal experience into something useful for others, and I hope I have been able to do this within the IPF.”
IPF Director Karen Hood shared the seismic contribution Stephen has made to the Foundation, saying: “Stephen is a tireless ambassador for the IPF and the wider rugby family. His passion, credibility and commitment make him an exceptionally worthy recipient of this prestigious RFU Rose Award.
“We have been extremely fortunate to have Stephen as an IPF Trustee for almost 12 years, and most recently as our Chair of the IPF Board. We are delighted he will continue to provide valuable insight and input as a trustee for another year.
“Since his appointment, Stephen has demonstrated outstanding leadership and, among many other things, has strengthened the IPF's strategic capacity and reach through partnerships with GB Wheelchair Rugby and the Wheelchair Alliance.
“His mission has been to raise the profile of the IPF within the rugby community so players know support is available should a life-changing injury happen on the rugby pitch.
“As Stephen’s term as chair comes to an end, the RFU Rose Award is an extremely fitting way to recognise the incredible contributions he has made to the game and to our IPF beneficiaries.”
Sir Bill Beaumont GBE DL, who became Patron of the RFU Injured Players Foundation in 2024, added: “I am delighted that Stephen has been recognised with this prestigious award, which is richly deserved.
“His love for rugby and for the people within the game remains as strong as ever, so we know how much this accolade will mean to him.
“Stephen has shared his time and knowledge so generously with me since I became Patron of the RFU Injured Players Foundation, just as he has with the wider IPF team and our IPF members [beneficiaries].
“He has dedicated his life to supporting and advocating for those in greatest need. His passion and perseverance to improve lives continues to inspire us all.
“On behalf of everyone connected to the RFU Injured Players Foundation, I’d like to congratulate Stephen on winning the RFU Rose Award and to thank him for everything he has done for the IPF as chair.”
Find out more about Stephen’s story and career achievements here
