RFU President His Honour Jeff Blackett and his wife Sally will walk 150 miles to raise money for the IPF.

The walk will take place over 15 days in a nationwide tour to coincide with the RFU's 150th anniversary celebrations. 

The RFU 150 Walk event will reflect Jeff’s own rugby journey, starting on 22 October at his club, United Services Portsmouth RFC in Hampshire, and finishing at the Home of England Rugby, Twickenham Stadium, on 5 November - the eve of the first match of the Autumn Nation Series. The Blacketts’ route will include 16 counties across the length and breadth of England as detailed below.

The event also provides the opportunity for the RFU to thank volunteers, in person on home turf, for their hard work, as clubs get back to full contact XV-a-side rugby post-pandemic.

Throughout their journey, Jeff and Sally will visit many rugby clubs and stop to watch adult training, local games and age grade sessions. Club representatives will be supporting them on their walk and sharing local stories from across the game. Many clubs are also arranging their own RFU 150 Walk fundraising events for the benefit of the IPF. 

The Yorkshire leg will include a formal black-tie dinner celebrating Yorkshire RFU’s own 150th anniversary and there will be many other events across the 15 days. 

HH Jeff Blackett said: “While a global pandemic is not how we wanted to mark our 150th anniversary, it has given us the opportunity to not only look back at the history, but also look to the future of rugby. It has shown the remarkable work our volunteers have done to keep their clubs and communities going. I am visiting as many clubs and CBs as possible to thank them – while taking the opportunity to raise much needed funds for the Injured Players Foundation.”

Anyone wishing to support Jeff, Sally and the IPF can do so here.

The rugby community are warmly welcomed to take part alongside Jeff and Sally as part of a sponsorship challenge or simply in support. Clubs can contact their Constituent Body for the full list of clubs to be visited in their area.

The 150th Walk itinerary includes:

Friday 22 October 2021               Hampshire & Royal Navy Rugby Union (RNRU)
Saturday 23 October 2021          Sussex
Sunday 24 October 2021             Kent 
Monday 25 October 2021           Hertfordshire
Tuesday 26 October 2021           Eastern Counties & Cambridge University
Wednesday 27 October 2021     East Midlands 
Thursday 28 October 2021          Warwickshire
Friday 29 October 2021               Staffordshire
Saturday 30 October 2021          Yorkshire
Sunday 31 October 2021             Lancashire
Monday 1 November 2021         Cheshire
Tuesday 2 November 2021         Gloucestershire
Wednesday 3 November 2021   Devon & Cornwall
Thursday 4 November 2021       Oxfordshire & Oxford University 
Friday 5 November 2021             Middlesex

If you would like to find out more about how to support the IPF fundraising walk please click here