Knighton rugby team members deliver presents to children in Hereford hospital

The Trefy Panthers was only set up in February as a mixed inclusive touch rugby team to give a chance for members to socialise, exercise and therefore boost their mental health.

Founder Daren Hipgrave hoped they would attract 10 members but they currently have 32 registered members with plenty of room for more.

And the members, which include a 75 year-old who attends now and then, are a generous bunch.

When Daren saw an advert requesting Christmas decorations for Hereford Hospital he spoke to another team coach and they put out a call on the What’s app group for donations.

The group came up trumps providing lots of presents for children at the hospital who would not be able to be at home this Christmas.

Daren said: “I was totally overwhelmed, there were chocolate stockings and all sorts of presents and four of us took them to the paediatric ward at the hospital and presented them to the nurses.

“They were over the moon with the presents and distributed them to the youngsters who were going to be there on Christmas Day. We dressed up with elves and Santa’s hats and we just wanted to bring some festive cheer to the children in hospital on the special day.

“The nurses said they had never been so full, with 18 children on the ward.”

Daren said the club does other fundraising events through the year and will continue to do so and they will take more presents to the hospital next Christmas after the great response they received.

Trefy Panthers is open to anyone over the age of 16 and they meet at Knighton Rugby Club on Friday evenings at 6.30pm.

It is a chance to socialise, exercise, play rugby and to support to each other.

Daren said some members want to play rugby, some just want to get fit and some just want to meet other people.