Stevens humbled by heart hospital visit
13 September 2007
ENGLAND’S Matt Stevens admitted he was ‛humbled“ after today’s visit to a children’s heart disease hospital.
The prop, who will replace captain Phil Vickery in the team for tomorrow’s match against South Africa, joined fellow Rugby World Cup squad members Andy Gomarsall and Josh Lewsey at the Chвteau des Cфtes in Les Loges en Josas outside Paris.
And Stevens, who is himself an ambassador for the Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund in his native South Africa, admitted it has been a sobering experience aware from the third biggest sporting tournament in the world.
The players hugged, handed out gifts, played rugby and signed autographs for the 50 children aged from one to 18 who live in the picturesque Chateau.
Stevens said: ‛Whenever you come to places like this you are surprised every time by the energy and the happiness of the children.
‛These kids are obviously struggling with the illnesses they have but from our brief visit here we can see that they are very well supported. It’s very humbling for me to be here and I’ve just tried to bring some rugby and fun and a friendly word. A lot of them just want a cuddle and it’s great to be part of it.“
England winger Lewsey added: ‛You can get involved in a big tournament and cocooned away and sometimes it can seem like the only thing in the world.
‛Rugby is a sport and one we all play with an immense amount of passion. But there are other things in the world and it’s good to get out of the hotel and to come here and to see these kids running around, despite their problems, is immense. I’m sure some of these children haven’t even heard of rugby but like all children, you get a ball in their hands and run around with them and they are happy.“
Every week eight 'apparently' fit and healthy young people die in the UK from undiagnosed heart conditions and the England squad have their own association with Cardiac Risk in the Young (CRY) – a charity founded in May 1995 to raise awareness.
The Rugby Football Union use CRY to screen its representative sides – Under-16, 18 and 20s – and they also screened all the senior squad ahead of the Rugby World Cup
Gomarsall said: ‛When you are worried about things and moaning about training, something like this puts it into perspective. Everyone has made us very welcome and it’s important for us to put something back into the community.“
Some will remember today for a long time but at the same time we have taken lots of photographs because several of the children suffer memory loss so it will be a good momento for them.“
In a separate visit this afternoon, England captain Phil Vickery ended up spending 10 minutes refereeing a college match at the HEC School of Management in Loges en Josas.
John Wells, who also attended the tournament along with fellow assistant coach Graham Rowntree, said: ‛It was great to see such enthusiasm for rugby among students. Such visits are important and although we are obviously in France to concentrate on the rugby, it gives the whole Rugby World Cup experience more depth.“
