Injured rugby player set to be honoured
A Shropshire man, who broke his neck in a rugby match 18 years ago, will be honoured with a special presentation at the England v Argentina match at Twickenham Stadium tomorrow.A Shropshire man, who broke his neck in a rugby match 18 years ago, will be honoured with a special presentation at the England v Argentina match at Twickenham Stadium tomorrow. Alan Evans, from Oswestry, has used a wheelchair since suffering spinal injuries playing in an Oswestry game at Birmingham club Bournville on November 23, 1991. But his injuries have not ended his involvement in rugby. He has played wheelchair rugby with the Birmingham Bandits and has recently obtained his Level One coaching award. His achievements and courage will be recognised by the Rugby Football Union with the presentation of a Certificate of Achievement by RFU President John Owen. Read more in the Shropshire Star
Alan Evans, from Oswestry, has used a wheelchair since suffering spinal injuries playing in an Oswestry game at Birmingham club Bournville on November 23, 1991.
But his injuries have not ended his involvement in rugby.
He has played wheelchair rugby with the Birmingham Bandits and has recently obtained his Level One coaching award.
His achievements and courage will be recognised by the Rugby Football Union with the presentation of a Certificate of Achievement by RFU President John Owen.
"I am very proud to have achieved my Level One award, it is something that I have wanted to do for a long time," he said.
Mr Evans, 50, played for Salisbury and the Royal Artillery before returning to Oswestry 20 years ago.
He converted from prop to hooker during his playing days and when he was on the coaching team at Oswestry Rugby Club, he was instrumental in helping the then first teamer Guy Howell make a similar switch.
He also used his coaching knowledge to help Oswestry head coach Don Howell and was encouraged to qualify as a coach by former Oswestry president Jim Pickard and Nic Scott, the RFU's Equity, Ethics and Safeguarding Manager. A long period of hospitalisation meant it took Mr Evans three years to complete his coach award.
"I want to pass all that I learned in the game to other people. I can read a game as it is developing," he said.
His first taste of coaching was at Salisbury in the mid-1980s when the first team players helped out with the club's mini and junior sides.
He was responsible for the Under-12s, which included a future England World Cup winner in Richard Hill and another Premiership player in former Bath scrum-half Marcus Olsen.
"I know I can help teams, do one-to-one coaching and pass on skill techniques," he added.
Evans is a client of the RFU Injured Players Foundation, a charity set up to offer help and support to injured players and their families.
By Sue Austin
