Sandown & Shanklin Hurricanes Vets – led by their skipper Greg Dean on his final game of rugby – played at Twickenham at the prestigious England RFU Veterans Rugby Day on Saturday (24th May).
This day of rugby was preceded by a massive fundraising campaign by the playing squad and rugby club, with all 6 invited teams competing in aid of the RFU Injured Players Foundation.
The RFU Injured Players Foundation supports and protects the rugby family. They provide support to any rugby player who sustains a life changing spinal cord or brain injury while playing the game. They also fund vital injury prevention research to keep everyone safer on the field.
The IPF have supported one of our own in Luke Orton, who suffered a life changing and traumatic injury in 2022, and it was a privilege for our lads to be able to take to the field in the honour of Luke and the IPF.
Thanks to the efforts of the squad, club, Island community and wider contacts, SSRFC were the top fundraising club, raising a record breaking £41,000 of the total £100,000 raised, becoming the highest fundraising team in the history of the competition by over £11,000. The playing squad were rewarded for their efforts with the use of the England changing room for the day.
On the pitch, the vets team won both their group matches – first in a tight game against Stratford Upon Avon RFC, followed by a comfortable win against Cobham RFC with a couple of wonder tries!
Sadly in the final, the Hurricanes fell slightly short against a select Midlands Barbarians team made up of National 1 and championship former and current players.
6 Hurricanes also represented the club in the Super Vets (over 50s) match, which was also tightly contested.
The squad was also joined by an over 300 strong army of travelling Hurricanes support in attendance cheering the boys on.
Players: Greg Dean (Capt), Jamie Dilk, Damien Marriot, Simon Swallow, Sam Flux, Nick Drake-Night, Colin Bond, Bob Simpson, Dave Steele, Ross Edmunds, Richard de Carpentier, Adam Tyas, Andy Greer, Ben Allman, Ben Kullik, Gary Warvill, James Bexon, Sam Rees, Luke Hunter, Josh Wetherick, James London, Sam Branston, Wayne Williams, Luke Chandler, Michael Cooper, Matt Jones, Chris Skelley, Bill Katirewa, Rob Eston, Joe Dove.
Support Staff: Dan Noyes, Nathan Proud, Tom Monks.
