World Rugby chairman Sir Bill Beaumont named as new RFU Injured Players Foundation Patron

World Rugby chairman Sir Bill Beaumont has been named as patron of the Rugby Football Union Injured Players Foundation.

Former Grand Slam-winning England captain and British & Irish Lions skipper, Beaumont will take the role this month in addition to his role as World Rugby chairman, which ends in November.

The IPF assists individuals in transitioning back to work or education and finances training initiatives or necessary modifications to workplaces and residences as components of its support offerings.

Approximately 76 percent of IPF beneficiaries are either employed or engaged in voluntary positions, in contrast to a national average of less than half that percentage for individuals with spinal cord injuries.

He will supported by a squad that includes Jason Robinson, Danielle Waterman, Mike Brown, Topsy Ojo, Emily Scarratt, Jonny Wilkinson, Katy Daley-McLean, Austin Healey, David Flatman, David Barnes, Maggie Alphonsi, Alex Sanderson, Sarah Hunter, Wayne Barnes, Luke Pearce, and Nick Mullins.

“I am honoured to have been asked to become Patron of the RFU Injured Players Foundation, a charity that for me epitomises the rugby spirit," he said.

“Rugby is about people. It’s a sport built on so many great values, but at the heart of it all is the rugby family.

“There’s always great comfort in knowing that when you face big challenges in life, your rugby community will rally around you. Thankfully, these types of injury remain extremely rare in our sport, so most players will never need to contact the IPF.

“However, it’s important they know the charity is there to help in the unlikely event a catastrophic injury happens, and it will continue to be there to support a player and their family for life.

“Rugby will never stand still when it comes to player welfare. A big focus for me as Patron will be advancing the great work achieved to date in bringing together Foundations, Governing Bodies, and medical experts from different countries to share knowledge and research findings as well as developing successful models of support for catastrophic injury and reduction of its causes.

“On behalf of everyone at the Injured Players Foundation, I would also like to share our sincere thanks to Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex, for his leadership and support of the IPF as Patron since 2010. We appreciate the time and commitment he has given to our rugby community over the years and I’m looking forward to keeping him updated on IPF work and player achievements.”