The Teddington-based community group SporTedd which raises funds for local sports-themed projects welcomed a panel of well-known experts to discuss the upcoming Rugby World Cup in France.
The group included former England, Harlequins and British & Irish Lions star Ugo Monye, now a rugby pundit and team captain on Question of Sport and a Teddington resident.
He was joined by former All Blacks fly half, Nick Evans, now a coach at Quins, Sunday Times’ rugby writer Stephen Jones and TV presenters Jill Douglas and John Inverdale.
The evening at The Wharf in Teddington was made even more special by the unexpected attendance and support from two coaches from the Fijian team which created history by beating England at Twickenham last Saturday, Glen Jackson and Graham Dewes.
During a lively Q and A session the panel gave their views on the likely finalists in the World Cup which starts a week today (September 8) and one agreed outcome was the final would be between the two teams which start the tournament – France and New Zealand.
Ugo Monye was robust in his support of England who play their first match against Argentina next Saturday (September 9) and was confident they would advance to the latter stages.
Raffles prizes included two nights at a Shepherd’s Hut in Dorset, a signed England rugby short, a photo montage of Jonny Wilkinson’s World Cup winning drop goal, tickets for a Champions League match, tickets for Quins v Saracens and tickets for the Lionesses’ match against Scotland.
The evening raised £1963 for SporTedd.
SporTedd also agreed to donate £2000 to a Fiji-based cancer charity for children which is being supported by the Fijian rugby team during their stay in Shepperton and before their Rugby World Cup kicks off against Wales next Sunday (10th September) in Bordeaux.
SporTedd has raised over £70.000 to support over 40 sport-themed projects in the Borough of Richmond. If you wish to get involved or you are involved in a local sports project which would benefit from a financial leg up please contact us.