Friday 22nd February 2013 KO 7.45pm
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THE Rugby Legends take a new path as the series continues to tempt some of the greatest retired players to put their boots back on, face up to old rivals and raise invaluable funds for their teams’ nominated charities.
The Legends are delighted to announce a star studded line up for the launch of the inaugural British & Irish v French Legends game on Friday 22nd February 2013 at The Stoop, Twickenham. Kick Off is at 7.45pm.
The match is the start of a fantastic weekend of English and French rugby and a chance to celebrate what will hopefully be a great year of British and Irish rugby.
It is sure to set the scene for the longstanding and passionate Anglo French rivalry at the England vs France RBS 6 Nations match the following day at Twickenham Stadium.
The excellent pedigree of rugby stars will playing for the proceeds from the match going to their teams’ nominated charities. For British & Irish Legends - Wooden Spoon, the Children’s Charity of Rugby, alongside Restart - the rebranded charity of the Rugby Players Association. The French team nominated charities are The Serge Betsen Academy and a new charity being set up by the equivalent of the RPA in France.
The British and Irish Legend’s team, captained by England captain and British and Irish Lion, Martin Corry, will be joined by former team mates from England and the Lions Jason Leonard, Josh Lewsey, Shane Byrne, Rob Henderson, Colin Charvis, Gordon Bulloch and Craig Chalmers.
The legendary Serge Betsen will captain the French, leading a team that will include: Christophe Dominici, Franck Comba, Julian Laharrague and Robert Pirès (yes - him!)
Kicking off proceedings will be the legendary 2 Michelin starred English French chef and rugby fan, Michel Roux Jr.
THE TEAMS
BRITAIN & IRELAND |
FRANCE |
Martin Corry - (Captain) |
Serge Betsen - (Captain) |
TICKETS
Tickets for the British & Irish Legends v French Legends Match on Friday 22nd February 2013 at The Stoop are...
On half way line (Block AE)
£30
Blocks AD & AF
£20
All other blocks
£10
Concessions & Juniors
£5
Seats for this match will be all allocated in the Etihad Stand and available via the following outlets:
In person at:
The Twickenham Stoop, Langhorn Drive, Twickenham TW2 7SX
Online via the 
website: 
TICKETS WILL BE AVAILABLE ON THE GATE
ABOUT THE CHARITIES
RESTART is the new name for the RPA Benevolent Fund, which was established in 2001 to support professional players who have been forced to retire from the game due to serious injury or illness.
It is every rugby player’s dream to combine his job with his passion and wear the shirt for his team, his club and ultimately his country. Each year the game becomes faster, stronger and more powerful. Thankfully, most players avoid serious injury, but a professional rugby career can be threatened at any time: a bad tackle, a collapsed scrum, a serious concussion, an accident or illness off the pitch.
When the worst happens, Restart is there to pick up the pieces for players and their families. The charity provides financial, practical and emotional support in the following ways:
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Help with the cost of long term or on-going medical treatment
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Assistance to pay for equipment or home improvements to help with rehabilitation
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Support to attain qualifications and retrain in the event of a career-ending illness or injury
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A counselling service to help players and their families cope during difficult times
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Financial support if a player is unable to work as a result of illness or injury
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Medical research and injury prevention initiatives
Restart also funds the following RPA initiatives:
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The Joint Professional Players Insurance Scheme, which covers all Premiership and England Sevens RPA Members in the event of a career-ending injury.
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The Player Transition Programme, providing support and career development resources to all RPA Members during their first year of retirement from the game.
Restart is registered charity No. 1113160, formerly 
To find out more about their work, click on the Restart logo.
THE SERGE BETSEN ACADEMY was established on the initiative of the former French international, Serge Betsen. Serge became aware of rugby in his native Cameroon in 1998 thanks to his cousin Ahmed, with whom he decides to set up the Academy. Returning to Cameroon in 2001, Betsen saw young rugby for the first time in Biyem-Assi Yaounde. At the time the club had fifteen children. Originally conceived as a project to popularize rugby with disadvantaged youth of Cameroon, "Enfants de Biemassy" has since become the Serge Betsen Academy which uses rugby as a vehicle for social inclusion, giving access to education for hundreds of underprivileged children in Yaounde and its environs.
To find out more about the Academy and their work, click on the logo.
WOODEN SPOON is a children's charity founded in 1983 that is dedicated to helping disadvantaged children and young people across the British Isles live happier, richer lives. Spoon partners with the UK rugby community, receiving invaluable support for their activities and the opportunity to raise awareness of the work they do. In doing so, Spoon involves some of rugby's top sporting role models in making a difference in the lives of young people in need.
Wooden Spoon proudly comprise over 40 regional volunteer committees, a central national team and over 10,000 members. All regional committees undertake many local fundraising activities and only spend the money raised on projects in their local community. During their first 30 years, over 600,000 young people benefitted from more than £20 million of charitable support thanks to the efforts of Spoon's staff and volunteers. Spoon is proud of its legacy, the work they do, and the ambitious plans for the future.
VISION
Wooden Spoon exists to make a positive impact on the lives of disadvantaged children and young people through our commitment to quality charitable work.
WHAT THEY DO
Spoon organise fundraising initiatives, raise the money and spend it where it is most needed. Over the years, donations have diversified from capital projects such as medical treatment and recovery centres, sports and activity areas, sensory rooms and gardens, playgrounds and hydrotherapy pools to include outreach programmes for young people in their communities.
Wooden Spoon is a registered charity: England and Wales No: 326691; Scotland No: SC039247
To find out more about their work, click on the Spoon logo.
