Pontypool RFC is pleased to announce that the club will compete against a Torfaen Select XV in November in a special memorial match honouring the late Roger Addision, who suffered a devastating injury whilst representing Pooler 50 years ago.
Roger was paralysed from the neck down after breaking his back when a scrum collapsed on top of him in a match against Rugby in Warwickshire on Novermber 5th, 1966.
Doctors initially feared that Roger would not survive the first three weeks of his recovery, but he defied medical opinion to battle on to reside in Stoke Mandeville Hospital and Cardiff's Rookwood Hospital for over 40 years, before sadly passing away at the age of 65 in March 2010.
Born in Pontypool in 1945, Roger played for Twmpath Secondary School, Pontypool Schools and Pontypool Youth before gaining his Welsh Youth cap in the 9-6 defeat at the hands of France at Stade Larribau, Biarritz in March 1964.
After making his first appearance for Pooler in the 6-0 victory against Oxford in March 1964, he went on to score seven tries in 79 appearances for the club and the future looked bright for this talented prop forward, before he suffered his tragic injury on Guy Fawks' Day in 1966.
Roger's memorial match will be held at Pontypool Park and will kick-off at 7:15pm. Tickets can be purchased for £5 at the ground on the night.
All proceeds generated from the match will be donated to Cardiff's Rookwood Hospital and Stoke Mandeville Hospital.
The Pontypool RFC team that played alongside Roger at Rugby in 1966 was: Jeff Lester, Laurie Daniel, Garvin Howells, Gary Rosser, Maldwyn Green, Lyn Targett, John Prince, Mike Williams, Roy Taylor, Mel Leighton, David Husband, Mel Stiff, Brian Gregory and captain, Jim Jarrett.
All of the above players are invited to attend the memorial match and enjoy hospitality, compliments of Pontypool RFC. Those who plan to attend are kindly requested to contact Ray Ruddick via email (raymond.ruddick@sky.com).
We hope you can make what will most certainly be a celebration of Roger's life and Torfaen rugby.
#PoolerArmy
