Through your magnificent generosity and efforts the Heroes Rugby Challenge Match – supported by J.P.Morgan at Twickenham in December raised £717,642.00 for Help for Heroes. Every penny of that has already been spent or allocated and the work goes on!

For the record, that means over £2,180,000 has been raised from the two matches (2008 and 2011).

Absolutely sensational and a big ‘thank you’ again from everyone involved.

The final score was H4H Northern Hemisphere 22 – Southern Hemisphere 36

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Long will grace the hallowed turf alongside Rugby World Cup winners, Will Greenwood and Danny Grewcock against a star-studded Southern Hemisphere XV that includes Rugby World Cup 2011 winner, Adam Thomson and Australian legend Joe Roff.

The 2001 Man of Steel is delighted to be able to participate in the Heroes Rugby Challenge, which aims to raise substantial funds for Help for Heroes, the charity that provides practical support for wounded servicemen and women. He said: “To be able to play alongside some of rugby union’s greatest players, especially for such an incredible cause, is going to be very special.

“It’s going to be an incredible day for the sport and the fans to show their support for our country’s brave servicemen and women.”

The 35-year-old, who was part of the last Great Britain team to beat Australia down under in 2006, has won many of the sport’s highest accolades. Long won four Super League titles with St. Helens, as well as setting back-to-back records in 1999 and 2000 for most points scored.

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Cohen, who retired from professional rugby in May 2011, started his career with Northampton Saints in 1996, where he played for 11 years before brief stints in France, representing Brive and later Sale Sharks. During his playing career Cohen amassed 57 caps for England, becoming the second highest try scorer in England’s history. In the 2002-03 season, Cohen was part of the England team that remained unbeaten throughout the entire Southern Hemisphere tour, picking up a Rugby World Cup winners medal in the process. Since retiring, Cohen has taken on the position of chairman for The Ben Cohen StandUp Foundation, the world’s first foundation which aims to combat homophobia and bullying.

“I can’t wait to step out onto the Twickenham pitch one more time, I have some amazing memories of playing there and this is surely going to be another one. To be part of the Heroes Rugby Challenge and the Northern Hemisphere team is a real privilege; with so many big names playing it is going to be a great occasion for a very worthwhile cause.”

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The 24 year old Fijian who serves in the Royal Artillery Regiment of the British Army, will line-up alongside the likes of Rugby World Cup Winner, Will Greenwood, former England lock, Danny Grewcock and ex-French flanker, Serge Betsen. A powerful ball carrying blindside flanker, Boladau was part of The Army side that this year won the inaugural Defence Forces World Cup, during which he scored a try. Boladau has previously played at Twickenham, most recently in the Combined Services game against Gloucester Presidents XV; being awarded man of the match for his efforts. Boladau has also represented Fiji, playing for their international sevens team in 2010.

Boladau, will join five other servicemen, selected from The RAF, The Royal Navy and The British Army to represent the Northern Hemisphere XV, managed by rugby legends Lawrence Dallaglio, Jason Leonard and Ieuan Evans.

Lance Bombardier Ifereimi Boladau, said:

“It is a huge honour to be asked to play at Twickenham with some of rugby’s greatest players. I am a soldier first and rugby player second, so to get the chance to represent my fellow servicemen playing the game I love is a dream come true.”

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“It’s pretty easy to get involved when it’s such a fantastic cause. I’m really looking forward to coming over and helping out. When you see some of the things the game is raising money for, and what some of the guys have been through, it’s pretty easy to help,”

The switch of hemispheres has already made Kirwan a marked man in the Southern Hemisphere camp with Fitzpatrick branding his former colleague “a turn coat”.

”Sean Fitzpatrick has already called me a turn coat for being involved with the Northern Hemisphere team, but I’m looking forward to getting one over on Fitzty. It’s going to be a great game, there will be big name players and we will be playing a Barbarians style of rugby,”

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“My only commitment from a coaching point of view is the ‘Help for Heroes’ game on 3 December. I’ve been asked to coach the southern hemisphere team with Wayne Smith,” said Mallett. “That is an exciting prospect and I’ve not spoken to anyone about international coaching positions. But I would consider each on their own merits if it happens. “I have been contacted regarding a few coaching jobs in the Top 14, but I don’t think I’ll take anything before June 2012.”

Roff was one of the giants of the Australian game during an 86 cap Test career in which he scored 244 points for the Wallabies. He made his debut at the 1995 World Cup in South Africa and become an institution in the Aussie side after that, making 62 straight appearances at one stage. His last competitive game was as captain of Oxford University in the Varsity Match on 6 December, 2007. The Dark Blues were beaten that day at Twickenham and the Wallaby legend left one of his boots in the dressing room after the game to mark his retirement.

“I left one boot behind at Twickenham just in case I ever got tempted to pull them out of the cupboard. But the Heroes Rugby Challenge is a different matter, a great cause and I’m really looking forward to it,” said Roff.  “Twickenham is one of the great grounds in world rugby and I have some enormously fond memories of playing there.”

The 79-times capped Waugh announced his retirement earlier in the year, but couldn’t resist one last hurrah at Twickenham. His four clashes with England at the iconic venue ended with three defeats, so he will be aiming to go out on a high on his final return. The two former Australians, who have 165 caps between them, will face strong opposition from a Northern Hemisphere XV

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