London Irish Supporters’ Club is proud to announce that it is making a £500 donation to the Jarrod Cunningham Bursary Fund.
assisted by Topsy Ojo, Matt Rogerson and Tom Parton
The fund has recently been set up by the London Irish Foundation to benefit young and gifted rugby players who do not have access to the necessary resources to enable them to participate in the London Irish Academy, Colleges & Education (ACE) Scheme at The Bishop Wand School in Sunbury-on-Thames.
The initial target for the bursary is £5,000 and amounts raised above that target will be used for the same purpose.
LISC members who would like to contribute can do so through:
The Jarrod Cunningham Bursary Fund (collectionpot.com)
Please remember to add Gift Aid if your contribution qualifies – it costs you nothing and makes a significant uplift to your donation.
Jarrod Cunningham – was originally from New Zealand and played as full-back for London Irish between 1998 and 2002, making 82 appearances and scoring 848 points.
In June 2002 he was diagnosed as having amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), forcing his immediate retirement from rugby.
In November 2004 he was awarded the IRB Spirit of Rugby award in recognition of his work in raising awareness of the disease.
He returned home to New Zealand in December 2004 where he died in July 2007 at the age of 39.
On 6th March 2003 a London Irish All Stars Team played against The Barbarians in a benefit game at The Stoop. The game finished London Irish 33 – Barbarians 66.
The Cunningham Duncombe Series – started in 2015 in memory of two former players who sadly died before their time, pre-season friendlies played between London Irish and Harlequins are played for a commemorative trophy and to raise money and awareness for associated charities.
Nick Duncombe – a talented scrum-half with junior and senior England caps, and played for Harlequins between 2002 and 2003.
He contracted meningitis while on holiday in Lanzarote and died in February 2003 at the age of 21.
At The Stoop there is a statue of Nick, on the front of which reads:
Nick Duncombe, 1982 – 2003
Harlequins & England
‘Carpe Diem’ (Seize the Day)
London Irish Supporters Club 