Ambassadors

Meet the our Ambassadors, who all give up their free time and are proud to help Rugby for Heroes provide so much help raising funds and creating awareness for military personnel who are making the transition to civilian life.

Thinus Delport

Thinus Delport is a South African ex rugby union player who played at wing or fullback for Worcester Warriors and South Africa. He started his career playing for the Lions from U21 level and he made his senior debut in 1997. Thinus has been a great ambassador for the charity, regularly attending dinners, putting his boots on to captain our charity rugby team, and most importantly leading our Transition Through Rugby courses for military men and women.

Julian Lewis Jones

With a 20-year career as a well-known Welsh actor, Julian Lewis Jones has been a dedicated Rugby For Heroes Ambassador with a very close personal connection to rugby. Most recently the face of the Six Nations Welsh campaign, Julian has been a long-standing and supportive figure within the charity, playing an active role in championing our cause. He even took on the #Welsh3000s mountain challenge in support of our veterans’ transition.

With notable appearances at fundraising events, including the Battle of the Balls celebrity football match, the Lee Cole Memorial Match, and our latest Six Nations Q&A Lunch, among many others, Julian has consistently shown his support for our mission and the military community we serve.

“It is such an important charity, and the work they do for our ex-service men and women is truly fantastic.”

Amy Williams MBE

One of our longest-serving ambassadors, accomplished Olympic gold medalist Amy Williams, has been involved with the charity for nearly a decade, showing her support for our military through our sporting and military events.

Amy’s relationship with the charity began through her connection to the regimented life of top athletes. As a former skeleton racer and Olympic gold medalist, she retired in 2012 after a long career in the athletic world. Amy has used her experience and expertise from years in sport to build a new and exciting career as a motivational speaker and TV presenter, much like many who transition after service.

Amy is also a local supporter of the Bath City FC Foundation in her hometown of Bath and has shown incredible support for our military community.

Kelly Sotherton MBE

Kelly Sotherton is a triple Olympic Medallist in Heptathlon and 4x400m. She has won multiple medals at World and European championships including being Commonwealth Games Champion. This makes her one of the most decorated British female athletes in track and field history. Kelly works in coach development and talent pathway within Athletics and also is a national team coach at all levels at Championships. The 2018/19 Rugby season has seen Kelly become Wasps 1st team performance running coach. Kelly is a passionate advocate for Sports Governance including athlete well-being, duty of care and doping in sport. In 2017, she founded British Athletics Athlete commission. Kelly sits on various boards and commissions Nationally and Internationally. Kelly is extremely honoured to be made an ambassador and looking forward to helping to support our military personnel from their transition to civilian life.

Ryan Lamb

A former pupil of St Peter’s High School, Ryan made his professional debut in the European Challenge Cup quarter final against Brive in 2006 which Gloucester Rugby won comfortably. Lamb started in the subsequent final, as Gloucester defeated his future club, London Irish. Ryan is a Founder member of the charity and has supported the cause in many ways from fundraising, attending the events, even rallying up players to help support. He is passionate about helping our ex service men and women as they transition to civilian life.

Ryan Jones

Ryan Jones is a triple Grand Slam winning Wales rugby captain who made 150 appearances for the Ospreys. Since his retirement from professional rugby in 2015, he has gone on to take on the role of Performance Director at the WRU. Ryan is a keen supporter of the military and joining us at Rugby for Heroes is a perfect fit.

Anthony Allen

Anthony Allen capped another impressive season in 2012/13 by being named Man of the Match in the Aviva Premiership Final win over Northampton Saints, his fourth successive Premiership Final appearance with Tigers. Anthony is a Founder member of the charity and passionate supporter of our military. He has been a great asset promoting our cause throughout the rugby industry and is a credit to the game with how he conducts himself on and off the field.

Kevin Yates

Kevin is a former professional rugby player who has represented Bath, Wellington Hurricanes, Sale and Saracens. He made his debut for Bath in 1993 and finished his career at Saracens after nearly 300 first class games. He has represented England at International level as well as the Barbarians. Since retiring Kevin has enjoyed representing rugby for heroes charity team on a number of occasions and is honoured to be an ambassador, which is particularly special as he comes from a military family. Matt is very honoured to be an ambassador for Rugby For Heroes and coming from a military family it’s even more special.

Keith Senior

Keith Andrew Senior is a former English professional Rugby League player who played for Sheffield Eagles and Leeds Rhinos in the Super League. A Great Britain and England international representative centre, he is considered one of the greatest players of the Super League era. Keith joined Rugby for Heroes as a candidate of one of the Transition Through Rugby courses and has been a great supporter ever since. He is passionate in his support of our armed forces.

Nia Parsonage

Nia Parsonage is a Yorkshire and RFU match official operating across the community game and in the women’s professional and international game. She started playing rugby at 15 for Capilano RFC in Canada, and has since been a school team coach, representative level team manager, regional 7s event director, and match day referee manager. Growing up, she wanted to join the Air Force, but wasn’t able to for medical reasons, so these days she’s involved in the commercial side of sport. She’s made a lot of great friends from the forces through rugby and looks forward to welcoming more service personnel into the rugby family through Rugby For Heroes.

Jonny Goodridge

Jonny is a former professional player who has represented Gloucester, Leeds and Bristol. Made his debut for Gloucester in 2001 and finished his career at Bristol in 2013 after over 200 professional games. Since retiring from playing Jonny has started coaching where he has taken up a role as Backs coach with Hartpury Academy. Jonny has represented the Rugby for Heroes side numerous times since retiring. “I am very proud to become an Ambassador for such a great charity, helping the difficult transition from active service to civilian life”

Mark Atkinson

Mark Atkinson is a Gloucester Rugby Player his career first started for Sale Sharks in 2008 before joining Wasps in 2010 he had a spell in the Champions Leauge before 2014, returning to the Premiership as he signs for Gloucester Rugby from the 2014-15 season. Mark has been recently introduced to the charity and was asked to become a Rugby For Heroes ambassador where he instantly agreed as he shares the vision of helping our men & women make their personal transition out of the forces.

James Forrester

James Forrester is a tall, agile, talented number eight with excellent ball handling skills and an eye for the try line, as his impressive try tally for Gloucester Rugby In 2003 Forrester was named PRA Premiership Young Player Of The Year as well as Sports Writers Young Player of the year. He was also named in the 37 man training squad for the 2003 World cup before a wrist injury and surgery ruled him unavailable. James retired due a long list of injuries in 10 October 2008 James grandfather Major-General Michael Forrester, was a first-rate front-line commander and was awarded two DSOs and two MCs in hard fighting in four widely different theatres James appreciation for the military made him want to become an ambassador for Rugby For Heroes and do more in giving back to the game he loved and to help with the transition of military personnel.

Marcel Garvey

Marcel is a product of St Peter’s High School Gloucester, the same school as former teammate and Rugby For Heroes founder Ryan Lamb. The word most often used to describe him is “electric”, and he marked his Gloucester debut by scoring three tries against Bristol. Marcel represented England A and England U21, and was also a member of the England Sevens squad. He made 95 appearances for Gloucester, amassing 180 points and developing a reputation as a deadly finisher. Marcel moved up the M5 to Worcester in 2006 and appeared 125 times for the Sixways outfit, scoring 42 tries. “Rarely have we seen a more exciting player in blue and gold” said a Worcester Warriors blogger. Marcel also played for Castres in France’s Top 14. He is a great addition to the Rugby For Heroes team, and we look forward to working with him.

Jordan Crane

A West Brom academy footballer as a teenager, Jordan Crane began his rugby career at Leeds Tykes before embarking on ten successful years as part of a formidable Leicester pack between 2006 and 2016. He proved to be the ideal Welford Rd forward, an athletic, hard-carrying No.8 in a side that won four Premiership titles during his time there. Perhaps his most famous moment in a Tigers shirt came in the European Cup semi-final against Cardiff Blues in 2009, when he kicked the match-winning penalty in the first ever rugby penalty shoot-out. Jordan’s followers on social media will know that his son Hunter is following in the family tradition, judging by his kicking exploits. Capped three times for England in 2008 and 2009, Jordan ended his 16 year playing career under Pat Lam at Bristol, and he has been working there as the Academy Transition Coach. Rugby For Heroes is looking forward to working with him.

Zinzan Brooke

Zinzan Brooke is a former All Black great and one of the greatest forwards to ever play rugby for New Zealand, having played 58 test matches for his country over a decade. From captaining the Auckland Blues to back-to-back Super Rugby championships in 1996 and 1997, Zinzan is also acknowledged for his significant contribution to the National Provincial Championship. Additionally, Zinzan has represented top clubs globally, including Lazio, Casale, Harlequins, and Coventry. Since retiring, Brooke has become a rugby speaker, joining us at numerous events to share his sporting stories and inspire our military community in their transition into civilian life

Geordan Murphy

Geordan Murphy, a former fullback and winger, is an Irish international rugby union player, known for his roles as a Leicester Tigers coach, player, and director, as well as a British & Irish Lions player. Highly recognised as the most decorated player in Premiership history over a 23-year span, Geordan has won 8 Premiership titles, 3 domestic cup competitions, and back-to-back European Cups in 2001 and 2002.

Expanding his success on the international stage, Geordan won the Six Nations Grand Slam with Ireland in 2009, earned 72 caps, and played in 2 Rugby World Cups.

Since retiring from the game, Geordan has become a proactive member of the rugby community and Rugby for Heroes, integrating himself within the charity and supporting its initiatives. In recent years, Geordan has dusted off his boots to raise awareness for our service men and women.

Thom Evans

Thom Evans is a Scottish former international rugby union player and model. During his short career, he played for London Wasps and then Glasgow Warriors, where he still proudly holds the record for the most tries scored. After a devastating neck injury forced him to retire from the game, his passion for rugby and the game’s ability to help individuals find purpose has never stopped. Drawing from his own experience of transitioning out of rugby, Thom has supported the charity at dinners and sporting events, helping to raise awareness of the challenges servicemen and women face during similar transitions.

Alex Groves

Alex Grove is a former Scottish rugby union player, widely known for his formidable play in the centre position. He has played for Worcester Warriors, Edinburgh, Moseley, Coventry, and Claverdon, and is most notable for his contributions to the Scotland team, including being part of the winning squad in the 2009 IRB Nations Cup final before securing a spot in the full Scotland squad. Among his fondest and most memorable achievements are his season with Claverdon RFC’s ‘Invincibles’ team during the 2021/22 season and winning Midlands Four West (South).

Julian Salvi

Julian arrived in the Premiership having established a reputation as a flank forward who relished his work at the breakdown during his time at the Brumbies and as skipper of the Australia U21 side. After a season at Bath, he moved to Leicester Tigers. He made over a hundred appearances for the Welford Road outfit, scoring 55 points. Will Greenwood highlighted his importance to the club’s success, describing him as a “hidden gem” in a stellar side. The knowledgeable Tigers supporters agreed, voting Salvi as their Player of the Year in 2013. In 2015 he moved to the West Country, adding his expertise to Rob Baxter’s pack at Exeter. Julian moved into the coaching team there in 2018. Everyone at Rugby For Heroes is delighted to see Julian added to our group of ambassadors.

Christophe Ridley

With his well-known connections within the world of rugby and his experience and expertise both on and off the pitch, Christophe has proven to be an incredibly asset to champion our military community through his connection in rugby. In his very first year as an ambassador, he has generously given his time to support our military community, those who assist us in our fundraising events, and his passion for the cause.

As co-founder of the newly branded HOLO Global, Christophe aligns perfectly with the values of the charity, amplifying the voices of our military personnel and the power of sports on a global stage within corporate and unconventional settings.

“We don’t learn enough from the people who choose to walk towards pressure, particularly those in potentially life or death situations. The military is a great example of how critical mindset, collaboration, and continuous learning are -qualities that resonate deeply in any field. We work closely with world-leading military personnel to share that learning through our platform, HOLO Global, into all sectors.”