For any rugby player, to suffer a life threatening injury is always a distressing time for both the player and their families. One incident in particular changed the life of an emerging talent in the English game, where his coach's and pundits had predicted a bright future for the prop. On a cold and overcast day in 2005, the life of Matt Hampson changed forever when he was crushed at the bottom of a scrum during an England under 21 training session. The injuries he sustained in that moment resulted in him being paralysed from the neck down and becoming quadriplegic, meaning life would never be the same for Hampson. But in his mind, his life was only just beginning.
Since that tragic day seven years ago, Hampson still continues his affiliation with rugby union where he maintains a strong relationship with his former employers, Leicester Tigers, where he receives overwhelming support from their fans, players and board. In the last year or so, he has set up a foundation which aims to support people in their rehabilitation by using the experiences that Hampson himself has suffered. Another of the foundation's aims is to inspire and support young people from all backgrounds who have been seriously injured through sport, as not every player is lucky enough to go through his entire career without suffering a freak accident. Reading up on the foundation in the time it has been running, it has definitely come on strong with Hampson speaking highly of his team that have assisted him in puttingthe foundation on the map. Outside those that work for the foundation, Sue Dowse and Dean Clarke have stood by Matt through dark times since the accident happened and are valued highly by the former Leicester Tigers player. Even then, this only scratches the surface on how huge the foundation has become since it started with some high profile trustees and ambassadors also involved with the foundation. Sir Clive Woodward and Graham Rowntree but to name a few.
From speaking with Matt, the one thing that makes the foundation slightly different to others was the fact that he and his team would try to keep in contact with the beneficteries and also aim to see them personally, providing a wealth of support in what can only be an arduous journey for any of the beneficteries. As the England team return from their tour of South Africa, Hampson explained how it is a tough thing to deal with, not playing, as it had been something he had dreamed of doing since he was five. It has taken him a few years to get over, but Matt is now a new man and has moved on from what might have been and is solely focused on what he can do now and for the future. With English grassroots rugby looking like it can produce a good crop of players; the prop spends his spare time on coaching some of our youth, saying it is the next best thing to actually playing. Using his knowledge of the sport and personal experiences to teach and nurture any potential future England players. Hampson exclusively told Talking Rugby Union how impressed he is with those he coach's and their positive attitude.
He said, "The fact that they listen to you is so pleasing. I always say my accident was a freak accident as accidents in rugby are minimal. Telling them my experiences does not deter them, it inspires them. It is really good when they listen to me about the foundation as well, it has been phenomenal.
If things continue as they are, Hampson and his foundation look to have a bright future ahead of them with the charity looking like it could have all the makings of something successful. The former England Under 21 said to us what he hopes the future holds for himself and the foundation.
He said, "The foundation has been set up for just over a year with my trust being there since my incident. We want to make it as big as possible and help as many people as we can. We hope to create our own sort of rehabilitation centre where people can not only get their lives back on track but somewhere where they can do normal things like use a computer and cook food. It should create a good atmosphere and it gets them out of the four walls of their house.
"I will just take each day as it comes, enjoy what I'm doing. It keeps me focused wanting to make the foundation bigger and better but we need as many supporters as possible. The more money we receive will keep the momentum going in the right direction.
For those that will get the pleasure of meeting Matt in person or to talk to him, many will see him as an inspirational figure in the world of rugby for those inside of the sport as well as outside, as he has learned to move on with his life and look forward, rather than to dwell on the past, displaying overwhelming determination and courage as well as vast amounts of realism in the way he has approached life after his accident and the handling of his foundation.