Bali Legends

Through tragedy and triumph, Rugby helps to heal wounds

Rugby, a sport where you play hard and party harder; Form bonds and friendships that last a lifetime and reach around the globe: Through both tragedy and triumph.

A casual conversation years ago between two groups of people will again this year lead to a charity and a rugby team, both born from tragedy, linking together to promote the charity and raise its profile within the global rugby world.

12th of October 2002, Kuta, Bali, the whole world was rocked by the devastation caused by two terrorist bombs. The rugby world was also hit hard as some of the people caught in the blasts were players and supporters attending the Bali 10s competition. In total 202 People lost their lives.

One of the survivors, Polly (Miller) Brooks was at the Sari Club with her husband of 5 weeks, Dan and a party of 8 friends, who had gathered in Bali for the 10s. She was the only one of the group to escape, pulling herself out of the wreckage and running, burning and screaming into a nearby street. She was helped by an Aussie Rules football player, Noel Ferguson, who helped extinguish the flames. She was eventually flown to the Royal Brisbane Hospital, suffering from 43% burns to her body.

During her 10 week stay in Brisbane, Polly decided she wanted to create some good out of what had happened, “I was searching for something positive to think about”. She decided to raise funds for burns victims and subsequently set up a charity in her husband’s name, “Dan’s Fund for Burns”.

Although there are many great places for the treatment of burns survivors, once out of intensive care there was little or no support available either physically or emotionally for them or their families. The charity’s aims are to provide Burn survivors with ongoing support, resources and practical assistance, whether that be through direct financial assistance to them or their families, providing essential equipment, sponsorship for children to attend special burns camps and more.

Funds are raised by donation, with supporters undertaking many different challenges such as climbing Mount Kilimanjaro, walking the Great Wall of China etc.

Rugby has also played its part with the charity organising a “Day of Rugby” in 2006. The day, held at Cambridge University, consisted of 7’s tournament followed by an Oxbridge Legends vs. an International Legends XV game. The Legends team was captained by Nick Beal, with the likes of Jason Leonard, Daren Garforth, Chris Sheasby, Jon Sleightholme amongst the players turning out in support. The team was coached jointly by Matt Dawson and Scott Gibbs.