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'Then you think, what am I going to do with my life now? - life after catastrophic injury and the GBL centre
This week saw the official opening of the Matt Hampson Foundation’s “Get Busy Living Centre” in Leicestershire, the result of many years of fundraising, hard work and dedication from all involved.
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Having suffered a life-changing spinal injury whilst playing rugby thirteen years ago, Matt Hampson set up his foundation and the aim became clear – to set up a centre for others who have suffered similarly traumatic injuries, to offer them somewhere post-hospital to continue their rehabilitation.
While the first floor of the new centre is populated with state-of-the-art equipment to help with physical recovery, it’s the social area downstairs that Hampson believes holds the key to dealing with the tough mental battle.
Hampson told RugbyPass, “The mental aspect of leaving hospital after a serious injury through sport is really tough. Then you think, what am I going to do with my life now? We’ve tried to give people the tools to move on with their lives. We’re helping people on a daily basis, not just the individuals and beneficiaries but their families as well, to see positivity again.”
England Rugby World Cup winner Mike Tindall has been a patron since 2013 and he officially opened the centre, joking as he revealed the commemorative plaque, “My other family know about this.” Tindall told RugbyPass, “You just get it, you see what [Matt] is trying to do. He always talks so much about the social area and what the families get out
of that.
“Yes, all that graft for the beneficiaries goes on upstairs but a lot of graft for the people behind the people goes on in that space over a beer and understanding what changes have to be made when you go through a catastrophic injury. For the last four years we’ve just been trying to raise enough money to get it up and running and keep it
running. It looks like we’re going to expand straight away, this dream Matt had he’s already moved on from, to make this dream bigger.”
Former Tigers and England lock Louis Deacon has managed the entire project, a role he was given straight out of retirement from rugby. He said, “We’ve achieved a huge amount, having a building that’s estimated over £2 million and to get it in under £800k is a fantastic achievement but we couldn’t have done that without the support; the contractors, the fundraisers, the dinners we’ve been to, that’s been the most pleasing thing, how many people have got on board.”
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Tommy Cawston is the CEO of the Matt Hampson Foundation and was clearly very proud of the milestone opening of the centre. He said, “To be honest, it’s a centre for everyone because everyone who comes here benefits. Matt’s got such an infectious take on life and personality that the whole reason for building this place was for people to get busy
living again and it really does that. On a daily basis this place is changing peoples’ lives.”
Find out more or donate by visiting: www.matthampsonfoundation.org
Comments on RugbyPass
A wallaby front-row of Bell, Blake and Tupou…now that would be hefty
1 Go to comments“But with an exceptional pass accuracy rating “ Which apart from Roigard is not a feature of any of the other 9s in NZ. Kind of basic for a Black 9 dont.you. think? Yet we keep seeing FC and TJ being rated ahead of him? Weird if it’s seen as vital to get our backline beating in your face defences.
1 Go to commentsThanks BeeMc! Looks like many teams need extra time to settle from the quadrennial northern migration. I think generally the quality of the Rugby has held up. Fiji has been fantastic and fun to watch
13 Go to commentsLets compare apples with apples. Lyon sent weak team the week before, but nobody raised an eyebrow. Give the South African teams a few years to build their depth, then you will be moaning that the teams are too strong.
41 Go to commentsDid footballs agents also perform the scout role at some time? I’m surprised more high profile players haven’t taken up the occupation, great way to remain in the game and use all that experience without really requiring a lot of specific expertise?
1 Go to commentsSuper rugby is struggling but that has little to do with sabbaticals. 1. Too many teams from Aust and NZ - should be 3 and 4 respectively, add in 2 from Japan, 1 possibly 2 from Argentina. 2. Inconsistent and poor refereeing, admittedly not restricted to Super rugby. Only one team was reffed at the breakdown in Reds v H’Landers match. Scrum penalty awarded in Canes v Drua when No 8 had the ball in the open with little defence nearby - ideal opportunity to play advantage. Coming back to Reds match - same scrum situation but ref played advantage - Landers made 10 yards and were penalised at the breakdown when the ref should have returned to scrum penalty. 3. Marketing is weak and losing ground to AFL and NRL. Playing 2 days compared with 4. 4. Scheduling is unattractive to family attendance. Have any franchises heard of Sundays 2pm?
11 Go to commentsAbsolutely..all they need is a chance in yhe playoffs and I bet all the other teams will be nervous…THEY KNOW HOW TO WIN IM THE PLAYOFFS..
2 Go to commentsI really hope he comes back and helps out with some coaching.
1 Go to commentsI think we are all just hoping that the Olympic 7s doesn’t suffer the same sad fate as the last RWC with the officials ruining the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsPersonally, I’ve lost the will to even be bothered about the RFU, the structure, the participants. It’s all a sham. I now simply enjoy getting a group of friends together to go and watch a few games a year in different locations (including Europe, the championship, etc). I feel extremely sorry for the real fans of these clubs who are constantly ignored by the RFU and other administrators. I feel especially sorry for the fans of clubs in the Championship who have had considerable central funding stripped away and are then expected to just take whatever the RFU put to them. Its all a sham, especially if the failed clubs are allowed to return.
10 Go to commentsI’m guessing Carl Hayman would have preferred to have stayed in NZ with benefit of hindsight. Up north there is the expectation to play twice as many games with far less ‘player management’ protocols that Paul is now criticising. Less playing through concussions means longer, healthier, careers. Carter used as the eg here by Paul, his sabbatical allowed him to play until age 37. OK its not an exact science but there is far more expectations on players who sign for Top 14 or Engl Prem clubs to get value for the huge salaries. NZR get alot wrong but keeping their best players in NZ rugby is not one of them. SA clubs are virtually devoid of their top players now, no thanks. They cant threaten the big teams in the Champions Cup, the squads have little depth. Cant see Canes/Chiefs struggling. Super has been great this year, fantastic high skill matches. Drua a fantastic addition and Jaguares will add another quality team eventually. Aus teams performing strongly and no doubt will benefit with the incentive of a Lions tour and a home RWC. Let Jordie enjoy his time with Leinster, it will allow the opportunity for another player to emerge at Canes in his absence.
11 Go to commentsLove that man, his way to despise angry little men is so funny ! 😂
4 Go to comments“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
24 Go to commentsA lot of fans just joined in for the fun of it! We all admire O'Gara and what he has done for La Rochelle
4 Go to commentsThe RFU will find a way to mess this up as usual. My bet is there will be no promotion into the the Premiership, only relegation into National League One. Hopefully they won’t parachute failed clubs into the league at the expense of clubs who have battled for promotion.
10 Go to commentsWell that’s the contracts for RG and Jordie bought and paid for. Now, what are the chances we can persuade Antoine to hop over with all the extra dosh we’ll have from living at the Aviva & Croke next season…??? 🤑🤑🤑
35 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
35 Go to commentsYou probably read that parling is going to coach the wallaby lineout but if not before now you have.
17 Go to commentsIf someone like Leo Cullen was in O’Gara’s place I don’t hear Boo-ing. It’s not just that La Rochelle has hurt Leinster and O’Gara is their Irish boss. It’s the needle that he brings and the pantomime activity before the game around pretending that Munster were supporting LaRochelle just because O’Gara is from Cork. That’s dividing Irish provinces just to get an advantage for his French Team. He can F*ck right off with that. BOOOOO! (but not while someone is lying injured)
4 Go to commentsDid the highlanders party too hard before the game? They were the pits.
1 Go to comments