Telford to star for Irish Crusaders in charity tournament

Matt Jones - Editor 21:45 22/11/2016
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  • Back in action: Telford.

    Former Dragons Number 8 and UAE captain Adam Telford is among the players selected to play for the Irish Crusaders, who will take on the Scottish Crusaders and Bahrain Warriors in a charity triple crown-style tournament starting next Friday, November 25.

    As well as a being part of the build-up to Crusaders’ Sevens preparations, the side will also be raising awareness of and funds for male cancer.

    Telford, who officially retired in the summer, called it a day following a charity trip with the Air Seychelles Mike Ballard Foundation Conquistadors in June – a tour that combined charity matches with delivering medical equipment to facilities in the Seychelles and Madagascar.

    Having been part of that unique experience, the Ulsterman jumped at the chance to aid another good cause while catching up with some familiar faces.

    “I joined up for a variety of reasons. It leads on from the Madagascar trip in which I saw how much rugby can be used at a charitable level,” said the 35-year- old.

    “Male cancer is also something that has affected my father in law and I have a close friend who is currently undergoing treatment, so it is a cause which I feel is an important one.

    “The charity has raised a lot of money over the years and hopefully we can add to this from the Gulf tour.

    “On the playing side, the Irish crusaders have recruited a few local ex-Dragons and UAE players, including myself, Rory Binder, Dan Bell, Andrew Carphin and Sean Hurley to join their ranks for the Bahrain charity event.

    “There are also a couple of interesting players coming out from the UK. Paul Magee formed a centre partnership for Dungannon RFC with my younger brother in the All Ireland League for over 10 years.

    “Quinton Caulfield was a senior player for Instonians when I left school and played AIL rugby. Sheldon Coulter, who was Ulster’s wing in the 1999 European Cup winning side, is also traveling out.

    “After retiring from Gulf rugby last season it will be a nice reunion with old Dragons players like Rory, Sean, Dan and Andrew. It also leads in well to the Dubai Sevens with the Dragons Vets.”

    The Irish Crusaders is a team of rugby players that have all either battled cancer themselves or have a close family member that has.

    The team originated in Scotland but now has affiliates in Ireland, England, the USA and even Bahrain.

    They aim to raise awareness of various male cancers through sport and show their support to fellow players that have had their lives impacted by the devastating disease.

    Money raised from next weekend’s event will go towards the team’s pot for buying medical dogs that are trained to detect male cancers early.

    Each trained medical dog costs £10,000 (Dh45,700) and they can detect cancer by smelling urine. The team has purchased one dog so far this year and the Bahrain tour plans to source a second dog.

    The charity tournament is a means for Telford to stay connected with the game he loves. The Northern Irishman had always planned to retire from elite level rugby in the UAE once he turned 35, but his final season did not exactly go to plan.

    A torn bicep saw the father of two ruled out of the 2014/15 season completely and although he returned to lead the UAE in their Asia Rugby Championship Division II campaign in Malaysia, he missed the early part of his swansong campaign with a herniated disc and sciatica.

    He returned but a medial ligament injury curtailed his campaign, although he did manage a fifth and final appearance for the UAE against Thailand in May in their triumphant promotion to Division I of the ARC.

    After five years playing for the Dragons first team, Telford still plans to represent the vets team – starting at next month’s Dubai Sevens.

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