Sandown and Shanklin Hurricanes Deliver Two Wins At Twickenham

The Sandown & Shanklin Hurricanes Vets, led by their skipper Greg Dean on his final games of rugby, played at Twickenham stadium on Saturday at the prestigious England RFU Veterans Rugby Day.

This day of rugby was preceded by a massive fundraising campaign by the playing squad and rugby club, with all six invited teams competing, all in aid of the RFU Injured Players Foundation.

The RFU Injured Players Foundation supports & protects the rugby family. They provide support to any rugby player who sustains a life changing spinal cord or brain injury while playing the game. They also fund vital injury prevention research to keep everyone safer on the field.

The IPF have supported one of our own in Luke Orton, who suffered a life changing and traumatic injury in 2022, and it was a privilege for our lads to be able to take to the field in the honour of Luke and the IPF.

Thanks to the efforts of the squad, club, Island community and wider contacts SSRFC were the top fundraising club raising a record breaking £41,000 of the total £100,000 raised becoming the highest fundraising team in the history of the competition by over £11,000!

The playing squad were rewarded for their efforts with the use of the England changing room for the day.

On the pitch the vets team won both their group matches firstly in a tight game against Stratford Upon Avon RFC followed by a comfortable win against Cobham RFC with a couple of wonder tries.

Sadly in the final the Hurricanes fell slightly short against a select Midlands Barbarians team made up of National 1 and championship ex and current players.

Six Hurricanes also represented the club in the Super Vets (over 50s) match which was also tightly contested.

The squad was also joined by an over 300 strong army of travelling Hurricanes support in attendance cheering the boys on.

The club has thanked its sponsor, Wightfibre, for making the day possible.