Charities We Support
The RFU Injured Players Foundation
The RFU Injured Players Foundation supports people who sustain a catastrophic injury whilst playing rugby. The charity provides help and support for both players and their families in the early months of these injuries as well as in the long term. The foundation was formed in 2008 and incorporates the former SPIRE Rugby Trust charity.
The charity also takes an active approach to conducting and supporting research and education aimed at preventing injuries and identifying how injured players can be helped more effectively.
Almost £400,000 was provided to clients in grant support in 2008 (a 72% increase on 2007), funded by donations and largely because of funding support from the Rugby Football Union.
How You Can Help
Please consider making a donation to the Injured Players Foundation:
- £50 - can buy an England Rugby shirt that can be signed by the England squad and donated to a hospitalised player
- £100 - can provide DVD or book vouchers to help keep an inpatient entertained during their hospital stay
- £250 - can fund the carer costs on a short holiday for an injured player who wouldn't be able to have a break without the attendance of qualified support
- £500 - can provide an injured player with basic internet-ready lap-top so they can keep in touch with friends and family whilst in hospital
Online donations can be made through Just Giving http://www.justgiving.com/rfuipf
Cheques made payable to RFU Injured Players Foundation can be sent to:
RFU Injured Players Foundation
Rugby House
Rugby Road
Twickenham
TW1 1DZ
Web Site: www.rfuipf.org.uk
Note to coaches: The risk of suffering a catastrophic injury while playing rugby in England is 0.8 per 100,000 people per annum and lower than other sports globally in the following order: American football (1 person per 100,000 people per annum), swimming (1.8), rugby league (2.0), skiing (2.5), ice hockey (4.0), gymnastics (8.2), and horse riding (29.7). Source: Dr Colin Fuller, Centre for Sports Medicine, University of Nottingham – Catastrophic Injuries in Rugby Union: An assessment of risk (July 2007). Quoted in RFU Touchline, Issue 111, March 2009, page 4.