the annual charity celebrity football match at the Battle of the Balls, where the worlds of rugby
and football collide to raise funds and awareness for military veterans transitioning in their last
24 months through sport. This year’s event was proudly hosted by Dings Crusaders, the home
of the Bristol Bears’ women’s rugby team.
The World of Rugby team, representing Rugby for Heroes, featured a lineup of ex-professional
rugby union and league players from all nations, including Ryan Lamb, Jonny Goodridge, Mark
Atkinson, Bruce Reihana, Thinus Delport aswell as notable former Bristol City footballers,
including Scott Murray, Louis Carey, Joe Burnell to even the score. The team was managed by
charity ambassador Nick Knowles and led on the field by All Blacks rugby legend Zinzan
Brooke.
On the opposing side, the World of Football team, managed by TV reality star Jason Burrill and
captained by influencer Chet ‘Sket’ Johnson, as well as influencers and stars from music,
entertainment to sport including Gareth Kelly, Georges Bert, Matt Lapinskas, Joel Frimpong and
many more.
the event. “I’ve played in a lot of charity matches before,” he shared, “but this one is special
because my friends in rugby have told me there’s some absolute rugby royalty.” Johnson, who
was new to the Rugby for Heroes charity, took the time to learn about its mission and
highlighted the power of sport, saying, “Anything active always helps with your mental health.”
Echoing the excitement, Gareth Kelly, a member of the musical collective Bad Boy Chiller Crew,
remarked on the unique nature of the event: “It’s mixing two sports into one. Different sizes,
people with different staminas and backgrounds, clashing on one pitch. As long as you have a
laugh and it’s for a good cause.”
The match concluded with a decisive 9-2 victory for Jason Burrill’s football side, perfectly
capturing the spirit of Gareth Kelly’s pre-game comments: “I think that’s the beauty of it all—it’s
not a pristine match; it’s everyone giving it their all.”
We extend our heartfelt thanks to our sponsors, The Cluberly App, for your generosity and
support, as well as to all the supporters and players who dedicated their time to make this event
a success.
