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Helpline We’re here 24 hours a day: 0800 328 4257
Team Colostomy UK Rugby League
#TacklingTheStomaStigma
In 2018 we formed our own Rugby League side to prove that a stoma is no barrier to playing even -the toughest of contact sports and were amazed by the response.
We’ve had some great success so far with some household names from the sport of Rugby League supporting us including Josh Charnley, Paul Anderson, and Anthony Gelling.
You can read Paul Anderson’s story here
Antony Gelling produced a fabulous video for us prior to our game at Chorley Panthers in June 2019 which you can watch here
We’ve also had some great media coverage and have featured in the following publications and programmes:
BBC News online, BBC Sport online, BBC 5 Live Rugby League podcast, The Guardian, Forty-20 Magazine, Proper sport, Kirklees TV, BBC Radio Lancashire, Rhubarb Radio, Howfen FM, Chorley Guardian, Lancashire Evening Post, Rugby League Express.
We play a mixture of rules depending on our opponents, from Masters RL to Tag or touch, and we’re always looking for new players so get in touch if you’d like to play for us!
Sponsorship
We’re hugely grateful to our Team of 2021 sponsors.
Gold sponsors – Securicare Medical https://www.securicaremedical.co.uk/
Silver sponsors -ConvaTec https://www.convatec.co.uk/
Bronze sponsors – Cheney Payroll services http://www.cheneypayrollservices.co.uk/
Shorts sponsors – Welland Medical https://wellandmedical.com/
Training sponsors – Amcare Group https://www.amcaregroup.co.uk/
2019
On Saturday April 20th 2019 we travelled to Gillingham and faced our old friends the Medway Dragons for a now traditional season opener.
That was followed up on June 1st when we hit Lancashire for the first time to face new opponents, a Chorley Panthers select side.
The game was part of an exciting partnership with the Panthers for 2019 which also sees the Colostomy UK logo feature on the Panthers playing strip.
Chorley Panthers Club chairman Alan Bowers said “I am pleased to enter in to this significant partnership which will hopefully raise awareness of Colostomy UK, made even more poignant with our club having players who have played and continue to play overcoming the stigma that might otherwise exist.
Giovanni Cinque from Colostomy UK commented “We are delighted at the growing partnership between ourselves and Chorley Panthers. The support we received from the club through their recent naked calendar not only helped to raise funds but more importantly had a huge impact in raising awareness of both our charity and living with a stoma. We can’t wait for June 1st!”
Our next fixture of 2019 took place on August 17th when we travelled back to Yorkshire to face the Political Animals in Bramley, Leeds. The day was a great success in raising further awareness of our charity and of ‘Living with a stoma’ with a great deal of publicity both before and after the game.
Our final game of 2019 took place on November 9th when we travelled to Hampshire to face Aldershot & Fleet Masters. Another great day on the pitch was had with several more ostomates making their first appearance for the team.
We’ll be back in 2020! If you’d like to play, sponsor or help out in any way please get in touch with Giovanni on 0118 939 1537 or giovanni.cinque@colostomyuk.org
2018
2018 was our debut year. We weren’t sure what to expect but after a successful kit launch hosted by the London Broncos , we played three games all of which exceeded our expectations.
A debut game against Medway whetted the appetite for a further game ‘down south’ against South London Silverbacks, before we ended the year with a touch game against PDRL United at the home of Featherstone Rovers.
vs Medway Dragons – July 21st 2018
vs South London Silverbacks Masters – September 21st 2018
vs PDRL (Physical Disability Rugby League) United – November 10th 2018
Ambassadors
Paul Anderson – Ex Great Britain, England, Leeds Rhinos , Halifax, Bradford Bulls & St Helens. Current England Knights and Warrington Academy head coach
Api Pewhairangi – ex London Broncos & Ireland
Tom Kaye – Team Colostomy UK & Leeds Rhinos PDRL
Jy Hitchcox – Toulouse Olympique
Kav Ellison – Team Colostomy UK & Chorley Panthers
John Flood – Team Colostomy UK
Graham Wells – Team Colostomy UK
If you would like to find out more about the team or are interested in playing contact Giovanni.cinque@colostomyuk.org or follow the team on twitter
