Legends Renew Rivalries In Stuart Mangan Cup Clash
The Ireland and England Legends return to the Twickenham Stoop on Friday (kick-off 7.45pm) for their annual encounter to raise funds for charities supporting injured players, including the IRFU Charitable Trust.
Taking place the night before the England v Ireland Six Nations game, this special charity match kicks off a weekend of great craic for Irish and English supporters alike.
The Stuart Mangan Cup is contested in memory of the late Stuart Mangan who was injured while playing rugby in 2008.
The friendly competition between the old Irish and English greats is testament to Stuart and aims to highlight and raise much needed funds for injured players.
The 2014 event will raise funds for the RFU Injured Players’ Foundation, RESTART and the IRFU Charitable Trust.
The Legends 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 team’s nominated charities.
Validus Re have again offered their generous sponsorship of the teams for this event. The England Legends team will be led by former captain and British & Irish Lion Martin Corry.
Corry will be joined by several members of the England 2003 World Cup-winning squad including former Harlequins players Jason Leonard and Andy Gomarsall.
The visiting side will be led by former Ireland hooker and British & Irish Lion Shane Byrne. He will be joined on the pitch by some Irish rugby greats, including full-back Geordan Murphy who only retired from professional rugby last summer.
Murphy, who won 72 caps for Ireland and now coaches at Leicester, said: “I’m looking forward to my first Legends game, although I feel a bit of a ‘new boy’ to be a legend!
“The English boys had better watch out – we have a great Irish team and will be looking to hold on to the Stuart Mangan Cup that Ireland won in Dublin last year.
“I’m especially glad to be playing in this particular Legends game to raise money for the rugby charities in honour of a fellow countryman’s name.”
Tickets, priced from £10 for adults (£5 concessions) and £1 for kids (Under-16s), are available to buy here or by telephoning the ‘Quins Ticket Line (0871 527 1315).
For more information on hospitality and sponsorship, please contact Rhys Ford (email: rhysf@sportingclass.com or call 020 8948 1334).
ENGLAND LEGENDS Squad: Jason Leonard, Duncan Bell, Stuart Turner, Kevin Yates, Garath Archer, Hugh Vyvyan, Jon Phillips, Kristian Chesney, Ben Sturnham, Martin Corry (capt), Chris Sheasby, Shaun Perry, Andy Gomarsall, Kevin Sorrell, Dan Scarbrough, Matt Allen, Ollie Smith, Spencer Brown, David Rees, Jason Keyler, Jonathan Goodridge, Andy Lee, Paul Welch, Harvey Thorneycroft, Gregg Botterman, Matt Salter, Mark Venner, Simon Shaw, Howard Graham.
IRELAND LEGENDS Squad: Len Dineen, Shane Byrne (capt), John Kelly, Geordan Murphy, Frankie Sheahan, Gary Halpin, Stephen Keogh, Liam Toland, David Corkery, Mick Galwey, Anthony Horgan, Adrian Flavin, Johnny O’Connor, Des Dillon, Gary Brown, Dave Moore, Chris Keane, Jan Cunningham, Simon Mason, Kieron Dawson, Jeremy Staunton, Barry Everitt, Chris Saverimutto, Mel Deane, Simon Keogh, Justin Bishop, Maurice Field, John O’Neill, Martin O’Keefe.