West Suffolk Hospital gets fit with World Cup rugby tag

Getting fit and active was what the doctor ordered at a new tag rugby competition staged at Bury RFC in Suffolk last weekend by the West Suffolk Hospital NHS Trust with support from the Rugby Football Union.

The competition had a World Cup theme and more than 200 doctors, nurses, porters, healthcare assistants, administrators and managers from different hospital departments and Healthcare partners of the Trust made up teams representing all 20 nations taking part in the global tournament being staged this autumn in New Zealand.

Cheered on by family and friends at the day-long event the participants were joined by student coaches and players from West Suffolk College’s rugby academy who led the organisation of the event, including providing training sessions over the past few months.

In addition to strengthening the hospital’s links with the community, the easy-to-play version of rugby known as tag was a perfect way for NHS staff and colleagues to get active and improve their health and wellbeing.

Among the many benefits Bury RFC’s women’s section were delighted at recruiting 50 new players who gave their names and contact details with a view to carrying on playing rugby at the club.

Each competing team wore their appropriate national colours and in a result that would be a major shock if it were to be repeated Down Under this October, the final was won by ‘Romania’ – drawn from community healthcare workers – who defeated ‘New Zealand’!

Lee Adamson, RFU development officer for Cambridgeshire and Suffolk, praised the commitment and enthusiasm of the college rugby academy’s young leaders and the hospital staff led by Jan Bloomfield, Director of Workforce at West Suffolk NHS Trust.

 Jan Bloomfield said: “The hospital has been buzzing all week after the event – so much so that we’re going to get feedback from all the team captains in the expectation and the hope that we will run another one next year.

 “I have worked here for 20 years and rarely had such a tremendous feedback in terms of thank-yous and emails from staff and colleagues.

 “We reflected on the fact that tag rugby is so easy for everyone to play. The age range was 16 to 60 and though I am a football fan I think I’ve been converted!

“We’ve seen staff talking to each other and recruiting for their teams across departments. There was plenty of banter on the public address run by RWS FM, who sponsored the cup.

“Overall it was all about the agenda of health and well being. My secretary hasn’t exercised regularly for years but has been inspired to do so now and has made a commitment.”

Adamson, who was joined on the day by RFU colleagues Penny Chapman and Tim Reed, said: “I am sure there are other hospitals and companies who would be able to run events on similar lines.”

And Bloomfield agreed, adding: “I would encourage other hospitals or companies to give an event like this a try but also point out that what we achieved was through a strong partnership between the Trust, the rugby club, the college academy and the RFU. Working separately we would never have got it done.”

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