Lewsey back as ex-Wasps turn out in force for England Legends
Wasps fans will have the chance to cheer on a host of their former heroes, as England Legends take on their Irish counterparts for the Stuart Mangan Memorial Cup on Friday 276th February
Lewsey joins former Wasps for charity match
Leading the list of ten ex-Wasps is the recently retired Josh Lewsey, who’ll have just returned from the Andes, where he’s been preparing for this summer’s attempt to climb Everest. Joining him in the England side will be Phil Greening, Will Green, Nick Greenstock, Mike Friday, Shane Roiser, Alex Codling, Mark Denny and Rory Jenkins. They’ll be lining up alongside the likes of Jason Leonard, Jason Robinson, Neil Back, Dan Luger and Mark Regan, under the captaincy of Martin Corry.
The other former Wasp will be part of an impressive-looking Ireland side, captained by Shane Byrne. It’s none other than Rob Henderson, who, at the tender age of 37, is still playing club rugby, for Esher.
The current team sheets read as follows:
ENGLAND
Martin Corry - Leicester Tigers, England, British and Irish Lions - Captain
Matt Allen- Northampton, England A
Garath Archer- Bristol, England
Alex Bennett - Saracens, England A
Neil Back - Leicester Tigers, England, British & Irish Lions
Richard Cockerill - Leicester Tigers, England
Alex Codling- Montpellier , England
Bill Davison- Harlequins, England A
Mark Denny - Wasps, England A
Mike Friday- Wasps, England 7’s
Darren Garforth - Leicester Tigers, England
Paul Grayson - Northampton Saints, England, British & Irish Lion
Will Green -Wasps, England
Nick Greenstock- London Irish, England
Phil Greening- Wasps, England, British & Irish Lions
Rory Jenkins- Harlequins. England
Jason Leonard- Harlequins, England, British & Irish Lion
Josh Lewsey - Wasps, England, British & Irish Lions
Dan Luger- Rugby Nice Cote d’Azur, England, British & Irish Lions
Matt Perry- Bath, England, British & Irish Lions
Mark Regan- Bristol, England, British & Irish Lions
Jason Robinson- Sale Sharks, England, British & Irish Lions
Shane Roiser- London Wasps, England U21, England 7’s
Tim Stimpson- Leicester Tigers, England, British & Irish Lions
Harvey Thorneycroft - Northampton Saints, England A
Kevin Yates- Saracens, England
IRELAND
Shane Byrne - Leinster, Ireland, British and Irish Lions - Captain
Jonathan Bell- Northampton, Ireland
Justin Bishop - London Irish, Ireland
Paul Burke- Leicester Tigers, Ireland
David Corkery- Munster, Bristol, Ireland
Reggie Corrigan - Leinster, Ireland
Victor Costello - Leinster, Ireland
Kieron Dawson - London Irish, Ireland
Len Dineen - Munster, Ireland
Maurice Field- Ulster, Ireland
Gabriel Fulcher - Lansdowne, Ireland
Gary Halpin- London Irish, Ireland
Rob Henderson - Wasps, Ireland, British & Irish Lions
Niall Hogan - Leinster, Ireland
Anthony Horgan - Munster, Ireland
Tyrone Howe - Ulster, Ireland, British & Irish Lions
David Humphreys- Ulster, Ireland
Paddy Johns- Ulster, Saracens, Ireland
Stanley McDowell - Ulster, Ireland A
Kevin Maggs- Bristol, Ireland
Eric Miller - Leinster, Ireland, British & Irish Lions
John O Neil - Munster, Ireland
Liam Toland - Munster, Ireland A
Andy Ward- Ulster, Ireland
Wasps involvement in this special occasion does not stop on the field. Forwards coach Trevor Woodman and Paul ‘Judge’ Rendall hope to be among the waterboys, and matchday doctor Ben Gilfeather, formerly the England team doctor, has also offered his services.
Stuart Mangan died of pneumonia last August, 16 months after suffering a neck injury while playing for the Hammersmith and Fulham club. After his injury, he struck up a close friendship with Matt Hampson – the former Leicester and England Under-21 prop, who suffered a similar injury in March 2005, while preparing for an Under-21 international, under the captaincy of Wasps skipper Tom Rees.
Stuart and Matt had been planning a joint fundraising event before Stuart’s sudden death. His family felt that this match would be a suitable tribute to him.
The funds raised will be divided between three good causes. Half of the proceeds will go to Matt’s Trust Fund. He can not breathe without the aid of a ventilator, and needs two carers, around the clock.
The other half will be divided between two Irish charities – the IRFU Charitable Trust, which helps injured players, and the Paralysed Rugby Players’ Fund, which is supported by former Ireland and Lions hooker Keith Wood.
Refereeing the match will be Tony Spreadbury, who was officiating at the training session in which Matt suffered his injury. ‘Spreaders’ is a paramedic by profession, and his timely intervention probably saved Matt’s life.
The teams have been sponsored by the insurance group Validus Re, with match sponsorship coming from the construction company The Byrne Group.
Tickets - £10, with concessions at £5 - are available from the Legends website www.englandirelandlegends.co.uk
