Martin Johnson launches fund-raising replica playing shirts

Martin Johnson, captain of Zurich Premiership league leaders, Leicester Tigers, and former World Cup winning Captain of England and two times Captain of the British Lions has leant his considerable support to a new fund-raising initiative from the England Deaf Rugby Union (EDRU).

Working with Kit sponsors, Island Sports, the EDRU has launched a replica rugby jersey to mark this year’s series of International matches against Wales, France and Scotland and the forthcoming Deaf World Rugby Championship.

Martin Johnson recently met up with the captain of the England Deaf Rugby Team, Richard Jackson, and is pleased to support the side’s fund raising efforts. “Rugby is a great sport and we should encourage every kind of player. It’s tremendous to see the deaf and hard of hearing guys playing such a high standard of rugby and I’m delighted to support their fund-raising efforts,” commented Martin Johnson. “These are great looking shirts and I would encourage rugby fans everywhere to dig deep and back Community Rugby in England.”

The England Deaf Rugby Union was set up in 2002 and the long-term aim is to set up a coordinated rugby development structure for deaf and hard of hearing people throughout England. With the support of the RFU, UK Deaf Sport and the International Deaf Rugby Organisation (IDRO), it promotes grassroots rugby for deaf and hard of hearing people of all ages.

The EDRU want to encourage deaf and hearing-impaired people of all ages to be involved in rugby union, not just as players but also coaches, physiotherapists, first-aiders and referees. It believes that deaf and hearing impaired children (boys and girls) can become the rugby stars of tomorrow.

There are approximately nine million deaf and hearing-impaired people in the UK. For some, this impairment has developed as they have grown older, lost through illness, accident or noise damage. Anyone with degrees of hearing loss (under current IDRO regulations - average 25 decibels or more in both ears) is eligible to play under the umbrella of the EDRU and the IDRO.

How to order your own replica England shirt

The replica England Deaf Rugby Union shirts are virtually identical to the full playing kit
A comfortable and hard-wearing polycotton shirt, they are available in all sizes from XS to XXXL
See EDRU Website Shop to order a shirt