Leonard to scrum with stars
18th September 2008
www.gazetteandherald.co.uk
An RAF Lyneham technician will be scrumming with international rugby stars in the Help for Heroes challenge match at Twickenham on Saturday.

Corporal Gareth Leonard, 35, was selected as one of 12 players from across the three armed services after representing the combined service rugby team in 2007.

He said: "I am obviously feeling nervous about the whole experience but am very privileged to have been chosen to represent the RAF at such a high profile game. I am really excited to be playing and am looking forward to the experience."

The Help for Heroes team will be captained by the former England captain Lawrence Dallaglio, with British and Irish lion Scott Gibbs heading the international team.

The armed forces players will be split across the Help for Heroes team and the international team, so will find themselves playing with and against former international stars such as Jonah Lomu and Jason Robinson. The aim of the event is to raise over £1 million for Help for Heroes, the charity that provides support for the servicemen and women wounded in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Update:
On 20th September 2008, the Legends of Rugby, watched by the Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall, played a game at Twickenham in front of 52,254-strong supporters and raised over £1.1 million for Help for Heroes. It was a wonderful day and we at Help for Heroes would just like to say how much we appreciate everyone who contributed to such a wonderful event, it was truly awesome.

The current England manager and 2003 World Cup-winning captain played with the Help for Heroes XV, as they claimed victory over the International XV. Johnson was given a standing ovation when he was substituted on, having not played since May 2005.

Wasps and England legend Lawrence Dallaglio captained the Heroes XV, who scored four tries to two to run out 29-10 winners.

The game proved to be a hotly contested affair between two sides packed full of stars from the past and future, mixed with current servicemen. The Heroes squad also included 2003 World Cup-winners Richard Hill and Jason Robinson.

Robinson said of British soldiers: "We rugby players talk about putting our bodies on the line but it's nothing compared to what these guys do. My wife knew that every time I went away overseas I'd be coming home. These people and their families don't know that."

The International XV was captained by former Wales centre Scott Gibbs. Unfortunately for fans, former All Blacks winger Jonah Lomu was forced to withdraw from the visitors' team after picking up a heel injury during training.

Prime Minister Gordon Brown had thrown his support behind the fundraiser when he met some of the players and praised the rugby world for supporting "the greatest of causes". Organisers announced that £1.1m had been raised for Headley Court rehabilitation centre in Epsom, Surrey. Prince Charles and Lady Camilla Parker Bowles were among the 52,254-strong Twickenham crowd.