We funded a wheelchair bike attachment for Grace Matthews, Bletchley WRFC, who lost a leg after a rugby injury in 2016. The new bike gives her real mobility again – she is getting out on long rides and giving the dog some exercise too.

After a tackle she was taken to hospital with a severely dislocated knee injury. Once there she was told there were complications and was taken for surgery. Damage to her arteries left doctors with no option but to remove her leg.

Encouragingly, Grace says she doesn’t agree with pressure on schools to play non-contact rugby: “they expect players to go through school with no tackling, then the day they turn 18 they’ll go and play senior rugby and get tackled by a 35-year-old. That’s probably more dangerous. And I’d always encourage people to play. What happened to me is really unfortunate but it is a great sport.”

Fijian British Army player, Savenaca Koroiboulileka  or ‘Koro’ for short died suddenly while playing for Oakham RFC in September 2016.

In cases of death while playing sport our charity objects allow us to help young dependents. Koro has four sons aged 4-13, and a Trust Fund has been set up by supporters at his club Oakham RFC to assist them until they reach the age of 18. We were pleased to make a contribution.

On Weds 22 February 2017, the Obolensky Association again hosts a fundraising dinner at Rosslyn Park to benefit the Sports Injury Trust. The dinner is held in honour of Prince Alex Obolensky, of Rosslyn Park, Leicester, Oxford University and England, for whom he scored two scintillating tries at Twickenham against the mighty All Blacks in 1936. ‘Obo’ was sadly killed in 1940 in his RAF Hurricane.

The inimitable David Flatman will MC and the speaker will be Andy Goode. Tickets are £60 and there are still a few available. Please contacts us through the website.

A TEENAGE rugby player for Blackburn RFC who broke his neck and was left paralysed, is being given a £6000 state-of-the-art specialist wheelchair to help him achieve his ambition of representing Great Britain at Wheelchair Rugby in the Paralympics, courtesy of the Rosslyn Park Injury Trust Fund.

George Claxton, 16, was formally presented with the wheelchair at Fylde RFC by the President of Rosslyn Park, Geoff Bayles, George said, “Now I am looking forward to playing again and, thanks to the kindness of the Rosslyn Park Injury Trust Fund, having my own special chair to play in will be a great help, so I am very keen to get back into action.”

Harry Broadbent, the club’s No 7 had his long hair chopped in February 2015: “As you may know I’m a 1st team rugby player and known for my long, flowing, luscious, thick hair. I will shave it all off for the Rosslyn Park Injury Trust and donate the actual hair to ‘Locks for Love’ a leukaemia charity, so it can be made into a wig for children who suffer with the illness and have lost their hair due to treatment.

The Trust helps injured sportspeople who have suffered significant injuries, ranging from help towards the costs of wheelchairs to sponsoring them through rehabilitation with the aim of helping them as much as we can through a difficult period.”

Adam is a football coach who was badly injured. This effectively ended his employment as an active coach. The Trust has enabled him to start again with an Open University course. He writes:

After my accident I had to leave my job and everything involving physical activity. This left me feeling down and not knowing where my life would be going..
I didn’t know where to go or who to contact in regards to getting me back on my feet (quite literally). Thanks to the Rosslyn Park Injury Trust I have another chance to pursue a career that I have always wanted. The Trust has been very efficient and  helpful in helping me. They left me a happier person and affected myself and my family in a much more positive way.
The Trust has paid for me to start a Bachelors degree in sport, fitness and coaching. I have since been completing work for this degree; every time I think about how appreciative I am towards the Trust and want to thank each and every individual that had helped me. Thank you