David Emery reports on the third National Game Awards at Twickenham, supported by The Rugby Paper
There were four Lions in the room, icons like Lawrence Dallaglio, Jeff Probyn and Maggie Alphonsi, former England captain Chris Robshaw and Sevens superstar Dan ‘ The Man’ Norton.
But the biggest cheer of the night from the 700 guests assembled for the National Rugby Awards at Twickenham’s Rose Room was for a man who struggled onto the stage on a double crutch.
Robbie Potter had survived the Manchester bomb blast which killed 23 and maimed 250 more and now he was being awarded the Inspiration of the Year in a special ceremony.
Robbie, a lock with Oldershaw RFC, was waiting to collect his daughter when he was hit by shrapnel and bolts, one of which lodged in his heart. A millimetre either side and he would have been killed.
Robbie, 47, told a hushed audience: “I was dead for three weeks – they couldn’t bring me out of the coma, and my mum and dad were a week away from getting the question ‘should we turn it off ?’
“So, a hundred days ago I was in a coma, eight weeks ago I was getting fed by my best mate, ten weeks ago, my 11-year-old daughter said ‘If you can’t walk, dad, I’ll push you, and she did’.”
Bu hikaye The Rugby Paper dergisinin September 03, 2017 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Giriş Yap
Bu hikaye The Rugby Paper dergisinin September 03, 2017 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Giriş Yap
Morris hat-trick lifts Steelmen
HOOKER Ieuan Morris came off the bench to settle matters for Ebbw Vale at Carmarthen Quins with his stunning second half hat-trick completing a 39-11 victory in Super Rygbi Cymru.
Joe keen to follow in family footsteps
JOE Ford is leading the charge to take Doncaster Knights to the promised land but says they have a long way to go before that becomes reality.
Robson keen to make it to the top with Coventry
COVENTRY ended the first five-match block of fixtures as the Championship’s only unbeaten side and full-back Charlie Robson has his sights set on promotion, and eventually playing for England.
Hancox joins the 200 club
AFTER 10 years of donning the red, black and yellow shirt for Bournemouth, skipper Grant Hancox made his 200th appearance this month after their Regional 2 South Central clash against Winchester.
Bear keen to be a big hit Down Under
FORMER Cornish Pirates back row Bear Williams has flourished in making the difficult transition from rugby union to league and has plans to play in Australia’s NRL. `
To play in two World Cups was a dream
RUGBY started quite late for me.
Call time on this pantomime ploy
THIS 60-second shot clock twaddle. If we must continue to plough down this blind alley it needs to apply from the moment the referee awards the penalty. If the authorities are going to put some stick about at least do it properly and with conviction.
Coetzee's pulling his weight again
WHETHER he starts or comes off the bench, Jaco Coetzee is just happy to be contributing fully to Bath’s revival after an injury-hit start to his career in blue, black and white.
Murray's on a wing - and a prayer ...
BLAIR Murray began the week ‘in a state of shock’ at having gone from nowhere on one side of the world to the starting grid for the autumn Tests on the other.
We need to kick on after winning at last
Paul Rees talks to Ethan Grayson who heard from two rugby legends after he helped Newcastle end their 25-match losing run
