Hospital staff give rugby their best try
Medics at Good Hope Hospital will be trying out new skills over the next few months, as the Hospital’s fundraising team launches a new touch rugby league for staff and the local community.
The league will see doctors, nurses, admin staff and some of the Hospital’s top directors battle it out against their own colleagues, as well as local schools, community teams and Birmingham’s top rugby league side, the Birmingham Bulldogs.
The 16 team league was set up by sporty fundraisers with Heart of England Foundation Trust Medical Director of Surgery and rugby fanatic, Ian Cunliffe. Games will be played over the next two months at Birmingham City University’s sports venue, The Pavilion, with the eventual winners of the league going on to play against a Great Britain All Stars team.
Ian Cunliffe said: “This is the first time we have attempted anything like this as a hospital and the response has been overwhelming. It’s a fantastic way for our staff and local residents to get fit and have fun in their spare time. Players of all abilities and ages are joining in and already we’re starting to see the competitive streak brought out in some of our staff. The Rugby Football League has been great in helping us set this up – and last week we even had the Challenge Cup touring our hospitals on loan from holder’s St Helens.”
The six-a-side teams in the league are mixed sex and open to players of all abilities and ages. Locals interested coming down to see a game can contact Richa Gautam on 0121 424 0973.
Money raised from the league will go into the Trust’s Sports Injuries Clinic.