2011 Heroes Rugby Challenge

H4H Northern Hemisphere 22 – Southern Hemisphere 36

Some of the greatest rugby players from around the world lined up Twickenham Stadium on Saturday 3 December 2011 for the Heroes Rugby Challenge. The match kicked off at 16:30 and was supported by J.P. Morgan, aiming to raise a substantial sum of money for Help for Heroes.

England World Cup winners, Lawrence Dallaglio and Jason Leonard, together with Welsh legend, Ieuan Evans, managed the H4H Northern Hemisphere XV coached by Dean Ryan and John Kirwan, against an all-star Southern Hemisphere XV side overseen by Australian and All Black World Cup winners Michael Lynagh and Sean Fitzpatrick, and coached by Wayne Smith and Nick Mallett.

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The two teams comprised of players selected from the Northern and Southern Hemisphere professional game, the best players from the Armed Forces and the pick of the young Academy players.

Almost 30,000 fans ‘did their’ bit for our wounded Heroes this Saturday as the northern and southern hemisphere’s collided for the Help for Heroes Rugby Challenge.

Over £2 million pounds has now been raised from the two Heroes Rugby matches at Twickenham, the first in 2008, and while the day was more about fund raising than keeping score, an Adam Thomson inspired southern hemisphere side ran out eventual 36-22 winners. It was north who struck first, though, after England U20 hooker Scott Spurling, 18, sidestepped the great Wallaby wing Joe Roff to run in the first try of the afternoon from deep inside his own half with Army man Ceri Cummings converting.

That was as good as it got for Dean Ryan and John Kirwan’s side, as the southern hemisphere replied immediately with the South African centre Andries Strauss slicing through the north defence to give Thomson, the south captain and a recent World Cup winner, the chance to dive over. Centre Jackson Willison, from New Zealand, scored a breathtaking second try for the south before their South African lock Inus Ras battered over just before the interval to put Mallett’s side in control.Rugby Fans

The south suffered a blow when fly-half and kicker Sias Ebherson was taken off on a stretcher moments after the north introduced a couple of illustrious substitutes in another World Cup winner, Will Greenwood, and Sean Long, the former St Helens rugby player who has been playing union of late for Preston Grasshoppers.
Worcester’s Josh Drauniniu gave the south a stranglehold on the match with a try following a run from the halfway line after the break, before Long and Greenwood combined to give the centre Tom Gleeson a deserved try.
The impressive South African hooker Pieter Van Vuuren cancelled out the score by crashing over in the corner before the north full-back Cummings rounded off the scoring with a try in the last minute.

Help the Heroes has funded a variety of projects including the £8 million rehabilitation complex at Headley Court, a new £3.5 million treatment centre for combat stress and the creation of a £6 million quick reaction fund to support individuals in need.

A huge thank-you to everyone who played, sponsored and supported what was an epic national show of support for our wounded heroes.

Northern Hemisphere
C Cummings; E Walker, T Gleeson, B Cohen, A Watson; N Mordt, D Pascoe; A Giorgadze, S Spurling, D Bell, D Grewcock, H Vyvyan (capt), A Quinlan, S Betsen, I Boladau.

Tries: Spurling, Gleeson, Cummings. Cons: Cummings (2). Pen: Cummings.

Southern Hemisphere
J Roff; A Matsun, J Willison, A Strauss, K Basson: S Ebersohn, J Marshall; S Taumalolo, P van Vuuren, T Mercy, I Ras, J Thrush, A Thomson (capt.), A J Venter, Z Feaunati.

Tries: Thomson, Willison, Ras, Draunioniu, van Vuuren. Cons: Ehberson (2), Little (2). Pen: Ehberson.

Referee: C White (England)
Att: 29,251