Premiership Rugby dedicates Round 20 to Restart Rugby Weekend

Round 20 of the Aviva Premiership (13th - 15th April) will be dedicated to Restart Rugby, the official charity of the Rugby Players' Association (RPA). Restart Rugby Weekend aims to raise £10,000 for the charity’s work supporting current and former professional rugby players suffering from serious injury, illness or hardship. Players give their all for club and country but their lives and careers can change in an instant. When the worst happens Restart Rugby provides players and their families with financial, practical and emotional support, including help with medical treatment, rehabilitation, counselling and career transition. Former Dragons, Wasps and London Welsh back-rower Ed Jackson was just 28 when a horrific accident left him virtually paralysed from the neck down. Following an operation to realign his spinal cord, Ed embarked on an intensive and draining course of rehabilitation and physiotherapy. Restart Rugby contacted Ed straight away to offer support, providing vital funds to pay for the life-transforming physio sessions he needed. Ed Jackson said: “Since my accident, the support I have received from Restart Rugby has been incredible. It has taken all the stress out of everything. I thought I would be stuck in hospital for six months or a year, but thanks to the charity’s direct support, I've been able to come home, attack my rehab and learn to walk again." RPA Group CEO Damian Hopley said: “The Restart Rugby Weekend is four years old and following the fantastic support the charity received last season, we’re looking forward to making this year’s event even bigger and better. All the funds raised will go towards supporting players like Ed and many others, so we are asking everyone to get behind this fantastic initiative and help make a significant difference to our players' lives. Our thanks to Premiership Rugby and all the clubs and fans for supporting this year's event, all of our members are incredibly grateful for this support.” How you can you support Restart Rugby Weekend 2018? - Bid in our online auction: Snap up exclusive signed club and England XV memorabillia - Get your limited edition #LiftTheWeight Restart Rugby t-shirt: As worn by players across the weekend - Wear your t-shirt if you're going to a match and tweet your photo to: @RestartRugby / #RestartRugbyWeekend - Donate: Text RUGB00 £5 to 70070 or visit the official JustGiving page   Visit: jumblebee.co.uk/restartrugbyweekend2018 to buy, bid and find out more.