Rugby is Part of My Identity: That Was Taken Away in an Instant

by Arron Phelps-Gardiner

Rugby is going to war, you ride into battle every Saturday and play for the team and not as an individual. Well I did anyway. It also allows you to get rid of the week's frustrations in a positive environment. I started at secondary school but didn't start playing properly for a team until 1997.

It's part of my identity, rugby, I started coaching at Chipstead RFC with the U5s, I finished my youth coaching journey last season with my players finishing Colts (U18s). I always wanted to cross the white line with my players and my son but this was brutally taken from me in the accident. So the next best thing was to take on a coaching role. I have had eleven of my players playing senior rugby and six playing for the first team this season. I think you can say I've done my job as a coach.

I was playing for the British and Irish Lions Wooden Spoon national team. We were playing against Sterling RFC in Sterling when I was tackled illegally and snapped my right leg. It was a double tibia and fibula open fracture.

Last play of the game, I was playing openside flanker. I rucked over on one wing and the ball went out to the other, I knew the ball would come back. I found myself out on the wing with a second row when the ball came down the line on the last play of the game. I get the ball, the opposing winger seat belt tackled me, high over the shoulder, but couldn't stop me so I dragged him up the pitch.

Inside the five meter line, I reached to score but as I did that the winger’s hip dropped on me and his full weight landed on my leg which was planted in the ground. I heard it before I knew it. I was screaming “I've snapped my leg, I've snapped my leg” as I was worried my players would ruck over. No card, just a penalty try. Part of my identity was taken away in an instant and for a score that had no relevance to the result of the game.

Luckily I was rushed to hospital where we talked about amputation but they were able to put me back together. I had major surgery and I'm still recovering sixteen months later.

The proudest I’ve ever been as a rugby player was when I was made county captain of the Surrey Wooden Spoon team. It was great to be recognised by my peers and play a good standard of rugby whilst supporting an amazing charity. I was the proudest captain I could possibly be.

Club rugby is in the toilet now. Twenty years ago most teams in Surrey ran three to four sides. The bigger clubs had seven or eight. Now if your club runs two teams every week you are a successful grassroots club. At Chipstead we have two teams, with a combined team with Purley John Fisher. “PJF Fish and Chips”. There are far bigger clubs who only run one team and struggle most weeks for players.

Rugby lost a huge number of players after Covid and we don't seem to have enough coming through to fill the gaps. Rugby at grassroots is in serious decline and it's incredibly sad. There is something really special about being a part of a team, no matter the level you play at.

I can and I can’t see a future for me without rugby. I’m enjoying playing golf. I love coaching but it's really hard being on the sidelines knowing you can't step on the pitch. I wasn't ready to retire and having that all taken away from me in an instant messed and still messes with my head. Right now I'm enjoying it, but I can see a future where my involvement in rugby is greatly diminished.

Hopefully with the Lions tour and Rugby World Cup people will be drawn to the game. Grassroots is so important to so many people. I don't regret playing rugby at all, and in the right setting I would play again.