MHF Amassadors

Stuart Broad	Geordan Murphy	Thom Evans	Harry Ellis
Freddie Tuilagi	Ben Youngs	Bob Casey	Mike Tindall
James Haskell	Tom Croft	Manu Tuilagi	Paul Nixon
Dr Hilary Jones	Dylan Hartley	Alex Goode	Victor Ubogu
Louis Deacon

	Stuart Broad Stuart burst onto the county scene with Leicestershire in 2005, he studied at Oakham School and is the son of former Nottinghamshire and England opening batsman Chris. He was picked for England Under-19s in 2005 and fast-tracked into the England A team at the age of 19, he made his One-Day International debut in August 2006 and finished as Leicestershire's leading wicket-taker in the county season. He joined Notts, his home county in 2008 the year he helped England claim an ODI series win in Sri Lanka and made his Test debut later in the winter. Stuart played a central role in the Ashes triumph in 2009. He is now a vital part of the England attack over all forms of the game and is England T20 Captain. Stuart is delighted to be an ambassador of the Foundation and says, 'I am inspired by Hambo and the work that his Foundation is carrying out'.
	Geordan Murphy Dubliner Geordan is Leicester’s top try scorer in all competitions, an Irish International he is renowned for his pace and quick thinking whilst under pressure. Normally found at wing or full back, he is capable of unlocking some of the most stubborn defences in the Premiership. He is proud to be an Ambassador of the Foundation and he states, ‘I have received my fair share of injuries over the years but I am still able to play the game we all love at the highest of levels, Matt’s Foundation is there to assist those who aren’t as fortunate and I am delighted to be an Ambassador’.
	Thom Evans Thom was playing in his 10th international against Wales in February 2010 when he suffered a serious spinal injury. The injury ended a very promising career as Thom was forced to retire from all forms of rugby (he was also a Scotland sevens international) on 1 July 2010 after months of recovery and rehabilitation. Over the years preceding his injury, Thom had been identified as a rising star of world rugby and was looking forward to many years as a try scoring game breaker for both Glasgow and Scotland. Upon hearing from Hambo and agreeing to become an Ambassador Thom said, ‘I had a serious spinal injury which forced me to retire from Rugby. I was very fortunate, but I have seen first-hand the mental and physical stress that people less fortunate than myself have to endure. Matt is an inspiration to me and what he and his team are doing with his foundation will make such a difference to those people in need. It is a pleasure to be involved.’
	Harry Ellis Ex Leicester Tiger and England International and British Lion, Harry’s rugby career was cut short in 2010 when a debilitating knee injury meant early retirement from the game. At the time Harry’s star was shining brightly in the rugby firmament, he was first choice scrum half for England and was destined to be so for some time. Harry says, ‘Hambo’s a great bloke and an inspiration to people like me whose careers have been cut short through injury, I am delighted to be able to assist him in the great work of his Foundation by being an Ambassador,’
	Freddie Tuilagi The Eldest of seven rugby playing brothers (5 of whom have played for Leicester!), Freddie played for Tigers and Samoa whom he represented at the 1995 Rugby World Cup. Freddie also played rugby league for Halifax and St Helens before returning to the Union code with Cardiff and Biarritz, now retired, Freddie represents a number of players through his own company as an agent. He says, ‘I’m happy to do all I can to further Matt’s work both here in the UK and other places around the globe where the care for injured sportsmen and women is not as advanced’.
	Ben Youngs England and Leicester scrum half, Ben has been delighting the Welford Road faithful since his full first team debut in 2007 against Argentina and he was the youngest Tiger to play in the Premiership when he came off the bench at Bristol that same year. Ben was instrumental in Tigers defeat of the Springboks in 2009. His speed of thought and action makes him a great asset and he is a real threat to European and International defences alike. Ben, has enormous respect for the work carried out by Matt and the Foundation, ‘It is great to know that there is an organisation to whom the families of those badly injured through sport can turn to for advice and assistance and I am happy to do all I can to help by being an Ambassador.
	Bob Casey Bob is a legend with London Irish supporters where he has been playing rugby since 2002, a product of Blackrock College, Bob has represented Ireland at a number of levels and received his first cap against the Wallabies in 1999. He is rightly recognised as one of the best line-out forwards in the business and is one of the driving forces behind Irish’s recent resurgence. Bob says ‘I, like many others at the time I was shocked and saddened by Matt’s injury, when I later heard about Matt’s Foundation and the work he is now doing, I was happy to offer my help as an Ambassador, I hope that the Foundation goes from strength to strength in the future’.
	Mike Tindall Mike is an experienced professional whose career has seen him play at top Premiership clubs Gloucester and Bath where he is still remembered fondly as a direct running centre who break s the gain line, Mike is robust in the tackle and has never been far from the England coaches plans since his International debut in 2000. Otley born and part of the 2003 World Cup winning team, Mike says, ‘Matt’s Foundation is there for all those who find that their lives have been changed forever after serious injury, I am proud to be associated with such an organisation’
	James Haskell England flanker James has recently left Stade Francais and will be returning to Wasps at the start of the 2012-13 season after a brief sojourn in Japan. Windsor born James played in the same U21 England team as Matt and was packing down behind him during a training session at Franklyn Gardens when Matt’s injury occurred. A good friend of Matt, James was shocked and upset by the events, ‘Being there when Matt was injured has made it very personal for me, it was also upsetting to think that Matt would no longer be a part of the set-up with England, particularly as we were really starting to gel as a unit. Hambo is a great mate and I am impressed by the work he has done since his injury, especially his efforts in setting up the Foundation, I want to be able to help and being an Ambassador allows me to assist and show support for Matt’s work’.
	Tom Croft Leicester, England and British Lion, Tom has been at the top of his game and would have received many more caps to date had it not been for a series of knee injuries that have kept him out of contention. Now fully fit, Tom is back to his rampaging best. Tom has received many accolades for his play at blind-side flanker but he is also competent at both open-side and second row making him a truly versatile asset. A well-balanced footballer, he is said to be amongst the quickest of players at Leicester and will be entertaining Premiership and International crowds for some time to come. Tom says, ‘I am enormously proud to be able to assist Hambo as an Ambassador of the Foundation’.
	Manu Tuilagi The youngest of the rugby-playing Tuilagi brothers, Manusamoa enjoyed a meteoric rise in 2011. Named Tigers Young Player of the Year by supporters and team-mates after scoring eight tries in his first season of senior rugby, Manu also picked up the Rugby Players Association Young Player of the Year award. The upward curve continued with a try on his England debut in the summer 2011 win over Wales. He then secured a place in the Rugby World Cup squad; Manu continues to be a potent threat and has recently returned to the England set-up after injuries and strong performances for Tigers. Manu states, ‘I want to do my best to help as an ambassador for Hambo’s Foundation, I’m proud to be associated with the good work it is carrying out at home and abroad’.
	Paul Nixon ‘Nico’ is a Leicestershire cricketing great who has also represented England, England A, the MCC and Kent. The wicket-keeper/left-handed batsman played his final game at Grace Road against Kent on 6 August 2011 in a T20 quarter final, Leicestershire won that day achieving their highest ever T20 chase of 203 in 20 overs, with Nico scoring 31 runs from 17 deliveries. Leicestershire then went on to win the competition which gave Paul a fairytale end to his 23 year career as a professional Cricketer. Paul is renowned for his competitive, gritty determination and his remarkable physical fitness which has allowed him to stay at the top of his game for so long. Paul is delighted to be associated with Hambo’s Foundation as an Ambassador.
	Dr Hilary Jones Dr Hilary qualified in 1976 at the Royal Free Hospital in London. In 1979 he worked for a year as the single-handed medical officer on Tristan da Cunha, the most isolated inhabited island in the world. He became a Principal in General practice and a GP Trainer in the early 1980's and began presenting educational medical TV programmes for British Medical TV in 1986. In 1989 Dr Hilary joined the most successful TV breakfast station, TVAM. He and Lorraine Kelly were the first presenters to be signed up by GMTV when it won the breakfast franchise in 1993. He has written several books including ‘Before You Call The Doctor, ‘What’s The Alternative?’, ‘Your Child’s Health’, ‘I’m Too Busy To Be Stressed’, ‘Total Well Being’ and ‘Natures Remedies’. His first novel, ‘What’s Up Doc?’ was published in August 2009. He is a regular contributor to the Steve Wright Show on Radio 2 and also writes for Fabulous magazine, Rosemary Conley magazine and other publications and newspapers. Dr Hilary is also the new health editor of breakfast television.
	Dylan Hartley Dylan was born in Rotorua, New Zealand and moved to the UK where, in 2000 he began playing his club rugby for Crowborough in Sussex. He was soon picked for Sussex and English age group teams. After a spell at Worcester Warriors Dylan moved to Northampton Saints in 2005 and was made the youngest club captain in the Guinness Premiership by coach Jim Mallinder. Despite still being in his mid-twenties, Dylan is very much one of Northampton's senior players and has already passed a century of appearances for them. After playing for England U21 in the 2005 World Cup, Dylan was selected for the Saxons ion 2007 and finally awarded an England cap in 2008. Dylan has also now cemented his place in the England team where he has been first choice hooker for a while. During the tour of South Africa in June 2012, Dylan skippered England for the first time in the third and final Test - a 14-all draw at Port Elizabeth.
	Alex Goode Alex’s strong performances for Saracens over the past few seasons have thrust him into the spotlight at International level where he is seen as being part of England’s bright future. Alex is happy to play at full back or fly half and has representing England U20’s and the Saxons after coming through the ranks of the Saracens academy. Although they share the same name Alex is no relation to Leicester Tiger Andy Goode. Alex is a big supporter of Hambo and has attended events in support of the Foundation, ‘I hope to continue to assist the Foundation in whatever way I can’, he says.
	Victor Ubogu Bath Legend Victor was educated at West Buckland School and St Anne's College, Oxford. After receiving his Blue he began playing rugby for Bath where his career spanned the amateur to professional era. A strong and powerful prop, Victor arrived on the scene and terrorised defences in the top flight of English rugby for a decade. During his time with Bath, Victor was an ever present in a team that won the European Cup in 1998 along with six Premiership league titles and six domestic cup wins. Victor who had already been selected for England Schools at 18 made his full debut against Canada at Wembley in 1992. Receiving a total of 23 caps, the highlights of Victor's England career came in the quarter final victory over Australia in the 95 World Cup and the defeat of the All Blacks at Twickenham in 93. Victor now runs successful sport event and travel company 'VU Ltd' and is involved in raising funds for several other charities. When asked to be an Ambassador by Hambo, Victor said 'It's great to be on-board and I can't wait to get stuck in and offer assistance to the Foundation'.
	Louis Deacon A Leicester man through and through, Louis earned his benefit year in 2012/13 after recovering from an injury which had kept him out of the final weeks of the previous season. The committed second-rower had previously overcome injury woes to cement his place in the England squad for the 2011 Rugby World Cup after his best-ever season in the national shirt. Often an unsung hero, Louis, who made his debut for England against Samoa in 2005, was instrumental in England’s Six Nations title win in 2011; he also made the 200th start of his Tigers career in the win over Treviso at Welford Road in the same year. Players’ Player of the Season in 2003/04 and again in 2007/08, he has played in five Premiership finals. Louis has also been involved in two Heineken Cup Finals with Leicester and played in all three finals – Premiership, Anglo-Welsh and European – in the 2006/07 season. Louis is honoured to be an Ambassador of the Foundation and is an active supporter of our work.

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