Alex Bennett (C) receives the RPA Blyth Spirit Award alongside Andy Blyth (L)
STAR PLAYERS including Jason Robinson, Nick Easter, Martin Corry and Jason Leonard will be playing in a charity match next month, organized by former Saracens and England A flanker Alex Bennett, who broke his neck in February.
Bennett, known as Bosh, is making an incredible recovery and he and his wife Antonia are putting on the game to raise money for the organisations who have helped them and others in similar situations – the RPA Benevolent Fund, the RFU’s Injured Players Foundation and the Alex Bennett Fund for Spinal Injuries Charities.
The England Legends, led by Corry, will take on The Bosh Legends, led by Easter, at Lymm rugby club’s Crouchley Lane ground on Saturday, 14 July, kicking off at 3pm. A long list of famous rugby names have promised to pull on their boots for the day. As well as Robinson and Leonard, the line-up includes Andy Gomarsall, Chris Sheasby, Danny Grewcock, Harvey Thorneycroft, Matt Perry, Tim Stimpson and Paddy Johns.
Another England World Cup winner, Richard Hill, will lead a coaching masterclass for junior and colts players during the day. Food and drink and family entertainment will also be on site and in the evening there will be a black tie fund-raising dinner.
Bennett, 37, played for Orrell, Saracens, Brive, London Welsh and the Barbarians during his 10-year career. Having joined National Three club Lymm as a player/coach, he was playing when the accident happened. He needed an emergency eight-hour operation at Leeds Royal Infirmary to stabilize his neck and since then has been rehabilitating in Southport Regional Spinal Injuries Centre, which treats those with long-term ventilator dependence following spinal cord injury –the condition in which Bennett arrived.
His remarkable courage and determination has seen him make an incredible recovery and he can now walk independently with a zimmer frame and is able to spend weekends at home with Antonia and their three young children.
Bennett’s positivity and bravery were recognized in May when he won the RPA’s Blyth Spirit Award for courage and determination in the face of adversity.
Match tickets for the Legends game on 14 July will be available on the gate at Lymm RFC, priced £10 for adults and £5 concessions. To book a table at the evening’s fundraising dinner with the Legends guests, email pvmaguire@hotmail.com.