Students urged to "get busy living" during inspirational talk by former Tiger

Former England and Tigers player Matt Hampson shared his inspiring story to a packed audience at De Montfort University Leicester (DMU).

Matt was left paralysed from the neck down after a scrum collapsed during training, changing his life over night. But his incredible determination to live life to the full has led to him setting up his own charity The Matt Hampson Foundation and helping change the lives of other people in similar situations.

He spoke about the charity’s work – its slogan is “Get Busy Living!” - its latest fundraising campaign and how the Tigers family has been with him all the way.

Matt said: “I thought: "I’m going to do something with my life. I’m going to be somebody. I’m going to focus on what I can do, not what I can’t do".

“You can lead a really good life after serious injuries through support. What makes me happy now is seeing other people move on with their lives and coaching rugby with young people.”

The foundation is now working with DSU Rugby which is displaying its logo on the players' shirts. The university players are fund-raising for the cause.

Matt’s biography, Engage! was a bestseller, winning awards and ending up on nearly every list of the year’s finest sports books.

He hopes to open the first Get Busy Living! Centre in Burrough-on-the-Hill near Melton. It will be a day care centre for seriously injured athletes and their families to help them through the rehabilitation process.

Planning permission has just been granted and it is hoped that work can start soon on building the centre. “Beneficiaries either want funds for equipment, or they could want advice. It’s not just them, it’s their families as well who come to terms with it.”

DMU’s rugby players said the talk from Matt had been nothing short of inspirational.

Edward Friel, who plays flanker, is a second year international relations and politics student. He said: “It was quite remarkable how he came to terms with what happened. It’s awe inspiring - there’s very few people who have that kind of grit and determination.

“The very best thing he could do for people is to give that talk to as many people as he can. I’m quite grateful that he’s in the world because of the hundreds of people’s lives he’s already touched.”