Northampton Saints vs Leicester moved to Twickenham to raise funds for Rob Horne after injury-enforced retirement
Australia international was forced to retire after suffering life-changing injuries 13 seconds into Northampton match against Leicester last season
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Your support makes all the difference.Northampton Saints are to move their East Midlands derby against Leicester Tigers in round six of the new Premiership season to Twickenham to help raise funds for recently-retired centre rob Horne.
The 28-year-old Australian suffered life-changing nerve damage to his right arm in a tackle during Northampton’s Premiership game at Leicester last season in what was the very first tackle of the match, just 13 seconds after kick-off, and was forced to retire from the sport soon after.
The two clubs share a fierce rivalry, but will put it aside in order to help raise funds for Horne, his rehabilitation and his family by moving the hotly-anticipated derby on 6 October to the 82,000-seat Twickenham in what will be the first match to take place at the stadium following the East Stand’s redevelopment.
“Everyone at the club has gone above and beyond to support me and my family through an incredibly difficult time,” Horne said. “I’ve been humbled by the outpouring of support from both Northampton Saints supporters and many of the Tigers fans that were at that game too.
“I am touched by the additional gesture the club are making in staging this game, and I can’t wait to see my teammates run out at Twickenham.
“I hope we can raise some awareness for Brachial Plexus injuries, as well as being treated to another chapter in this storied rivalry.”
Of course, the last time Northampton faced Leicester at Twickenham they suffered an agonising heavy defeat in the 2013 Premiership final, in which captain Dylan Hartley was sent off, but Saints chairman John White admitted that those differences were easily put aside when it came to Horne’s injury last season as both Leicester and the supporters sought ways to help with the Australia’s future.
“The outpouring of support for Rob at the end of last season from the whole rugby community in the East Midlands was overwhelming – and we wanted to act,” White said.
“The club received countless requests from both Saints and Tigers supporters for a fitting way in which they could both bid farewell to Rob and also support him.
“Leicester Tigers’ chairman and board have also made it clear that they are very keen to help Rob in any way they can, and this is a superb way to do that.”
The match kicks off at 15:00 and with tickets priced at £20 for adults and £10 for juniors, Northampton will donate £5 from each sale to helping with Horne’s rehabilitation. Supporters who purchase tickets will also have the option of donating more towards the former Wallaby international should they wish. As part of the fixture move, Northampton are putting on free travel to London and season ticket holders will have prime seating reserved for them, which includes a free alcoholic or non-alcoholic drink up until an hour before kick-off.
As well as aiding Horne and his family, the match will raise the curtain on the new-look Twickenham stadium, which due to redevelopment will not hold the London Double-Header as usual on the opening weekend of the season. With that in mind, the Rugby Football Union will use the Northampton vs Leicester derby as a trial run to test the new facilities in the East Stand ahead of the autumn internationals when New Zealand return to face England for the first time since 2014, and Saints’ new Kiwi head coach Chris Boyd believes that his side will be able to feed off the large crowd that will be expected.
“This is a great opportunity for the club and a great chance for the rugby family to get behind Rob,” said Boyd, who is tasked with lifting Northampton from their disappointing ninth-place finish last season.
“I’m sure the playing squad are all looking forward to playing the derby on one of the biggest stages in the world at Twickenham – no doubt our supporters will create the same special atmosphere we have in Northampton down in London to get behind us.”
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