Matt Hampson, former Leicester prop and unsung hero, has no fears for game he loves

By Mick Cleary Published: 7:15AM GMT twenty-three February 2010

Happy nearby a rugby pitch: Matt Hampson at his dear Welford Road Photo: RII SCHROER

Almost usually five years ago, he as well had lain slumped, buried underneath a lift of bodies after a scrum collapsed. Leicester column Hampson was precision with the England Under-21s when his collision happened.

Evans was propitious and will shortly be out of hospital. But is Hampson still aroused for the sport?

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"No, I don"t think rugby"s as well dangerous," Hampson said. "There"s risk there, but that"s what draws us to it, that contact, that physicality. If I could fool around now, I would."

Another son of Leicester, Dan Cole, 3 years younger than Hampson, is set to wear the No 3 shirt this weekend. Has Hampson ever felt sour given his accident, generally in the dim days?

"No, that"s not my way," Hampson said. "Yes, when I saw Thom Evans go down my heart was in my mouth. His was a weird incident, usually as cave was.

"As for Dan, I"m gay for him. He was a still lad, but has got some-more aggressive, seeking to glow his conflicting series in to subsequent week as all great tightheads should. And as for dim days, you don"t have to be in a wheelchair to have those."

Sitting in a liberality box seeking down on Welford Road, you can suppose how Hampson was prior to his collision the same as he is now, club one distressing thing.

"Yep, there"s zero wrong with me solely my spinal connective tissue is knackered," pronounced Hampson, wry, smart, self-deprecating and with a tasty corner in banter.

His celebrity surges by his detained physique "I don"t wish sympathy, usually normality" and was clear not prolonged ago as he helped put his charges at Oakham School by their paces as piece of his turn one coaching badge.

Hampson does not let his incapacity stop him some-more than needs be. He might be paralysed, forced to inhale by a ventilator, great him to rely on a register of 10 full-time carers, but he was still there instructing the boys.

"Obviously I can"t denote things physically, so I have to rely in written prompts," pronounced Hampson, who creates no explain to be heading the hold up that all those with incapacity should.

"It"s usually my approach of you do things. I lead a great and over life. Nobody can contend how prolonged I will live so it"s up to me to get on with it. You can go one approach or the other.

"I don"t unequivocally see myself as different. I"m a normal lad, a bit fat and I"m in a wheelchair. But I see myself as a rugby chairman and really propitious to have had the await I have had."

Hampson"s friends and family are battling to lift �8 million to assistance him by his life.

An England-Ireland Legends diversion at Harlequins" Stoop on Friday will assistance with funds, along with an interest for paralysed Irish rugby player, the late Stuart Mangan.

Martin Johnson and the complete England patrol will attend a cooking for that tickets are accessible in Battersea subsequent week. Hampson runs a full-time memorabilia site, too. Busy is best.

Just prior to Christmas, Hampson was means to move in to a residence in Leicestershire purpose-built by his father.

The customised set-up includes a hydro-pool and cross-trainers.

"Every kid wants their independence," pronounced Hampson. "Mine"s come five years later, and with a couple of differences."

Hampson had a section specifically stamped and built in to the wall. "Everything Happens for a Reason", it reads.

The Six Nations Championship is ostensible to throw up heroes. You shortly realize in Hampson"s association that they are not usually to be found on the pitch.