Passion for rugby unites business people at networking event

Last week, I had the honour of being a guest speaker at the Rugby Business Network’s latest event in Reading.

The Rugby Business Network is the world’s biggest and most influential network for senior businesspeople with a passion for rugby. With 25,000 members in 50 cities across all five continents, it is a global not-for-profit organisation aimed at making a sustained commitment to the rugby community by connecting and engaging with business executives and directors who love the game and really want to make a difference.

Attended by 28 delegates from across industry from civil engineering to financial services businesses and oil and gas to sportswear companies, the event focused on the fantastic contribution women make to rugby.

I was in very distinguished company as one of my fellow speakers was none other than Catherine Spence, ex-captain of England’s women’s rugby and a former World Cup finalist, who is now a successful businesswoman in her own right and runs Inspiring Women, a business specialising in providing female motivational speakers for events.

It was a privilege to have the opportunity to stand up in front of the assembled guests to talk about my passion not just for rugby but for all sports and how I combine this with my work as a specialist personal injury lawyer who, over the years, has helped many sportspeople who have suffered serious, life-changing injuries.

It sparked a lively and interesting debate and Q&A session about sporting injuries and in particular, head injuries and the protocol involved surrounding concussion.

There has been a major focus in recent years on how concussion is managed at a club level and nationally, with a joint venture between the Rugby Football Union (RFU), Premiership Rugby and the Rugby Players’ Association (RPA) focusing on concussion awareness, management in games and ‘return to play’ procedures as well as alterations to the head injury assessment process.

Delegates were particularly interested in learning more about the potential liability for volunteer coaches (especially parent volunteers) at the grass roots level for children’s rugby clubs and school teams.

I also had the opportunity to speak about one of my clients, a very inspirational young man called Ben Ridd, who, as a youngster, sustained a severe brain injury while competing in a power boating competition.

In 2014, we secured a £5.5 million settlement for Ben.  Today, he has the care and support he needs on a daily basis and is now able to once again, take to the water and indulge in his huge passion for power boating. You can watch Ben’s story here.

And that’s what it’s all about – helping individuals who have been seriously injured to get their lives back on track and if possible, doing what they love again.

To find out more about the Rugby Business Network visit: therugbybusinessnetwork.com.