Johnson to dust off his playing boots
Tue, 08 Jul 2008 18:21
England Team Manager and playing legend Martin Johnson returns to competitive playing action in a once-off charity rugby challenge match at Twickenham on September 20.
The Help for Heroes match aims to raise money to help the care and rehabilitation of injured British service personnel who have served in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Johnson will line up alongside captain Lawrence Dallaglio for the first time since 2003 to play for the Help for Heroes XV, managed by Phil de Glanville against an International XV managed by Ieuan Evans and captained by Scott Gibbs.
Martin Johnson last played a competitive game as part of his testimonial farewell fixture against a Jonah Lomu XV at Twickenham just over three years ago.
"I've kept myself fit and although I've played some one-off charity rugby and football matches, this will be the first and I'm sure the last time that I will play in a competitive match against some world class players," Johnson told the RFU.
"As soon as I was asked to play by Lawrence Dallaglio I didn't hesitate to say yes. The cause is a superb one and anything the players and fans can do to raise money for care and the facilities to support our wounded service personnel at Selly Oak and Headley Court has to be worthwhile.
"Our target is to reach a sell-out at Twickenham and to raise £1m for Help for Heroes so I urge everyone to do their bit, buy a ticket and enjoy a good day out for an excellent cause," he added.
Johnson played 84 times for England and led them to their Rugby World Cup win in November 2003. He won Guinness Premiership titles and two Heineken Cups with Leicester Tigers and captained the British & Irish Lions in 1997 and 2001.
He is now the newly appointed England Team Manager.
Details of further players who will take part in the Help for Heroes match will be announced on July 14.
