Last weekend I had the pleasure of refereeing the Devon County Cup final between host club Brixham and Barnstaple, a club who reside one division higher than the "Fishermen".
This was my second Devon Cup final, having been fortunate enough to oversee the 2008 match between Exmouth and Barnstaple, so I knew it would be a day to savour and one that would live long in the memory - Devon know how to stage a cup final.
It was a fantastic event and Brixham did the occasion proud - a thrilling game ensuing and a nail-biter for the crowd, with a drop goal the only score that eventually separated the sides as Barum ran out 28-25 winners.
However, despite the thrilling display of rugby and tremendous effort put in by the players, it was to be one of those matches that will be tinged with sadness.
Mike Browne (pictured above), Brixham's influential number 8, was seriously injured just after kick-off and subsequently replaced, but only two days later was the full shock of what happened actually able to sink in.
Browne was later diagnosed with a broken neck and underwent a 6.5-hour operation at Plymouth's Derrisford Hospital, where two bones in his neck were repaired with the aid of a titanium plate.
Report from thisisdevon
And things got worse for the Browne family when brother Kyle suffered a broken arm later in the match.
I love our sport - the passion, the emotion, the physicality - everything that it has to offer makes rugby union unique, and long may it stay that way.
But sometimes, when things like this happen, for a second you wonder if the risks players' take are ever worth it.
Mike is likely to be unable to work for a very long time and at present it is unknown if he'll play rugby again. As for brother Kyle, in comparison a broken arm is almost a "got off lightly" consequence, but it is not and when people's livelihoods are at stake it is a huge price to pay for the "love of the game".
I never want to have that phone call again - I never want to see a serious injury report form again... but I would be prepared to bet that if the Browne brothers make full and speedy recoveries, they will be doing everything they can to be pulling on the Brixham jersey again.
With the support of their club and their families, I am sure both, especially Mike, will be back at Astley Park before we know it.
I wish them both good luck in their recoveries.
This was my second Devon Cup final, having been fortunate enough to oversee the 2008 match between Exmouth and Barnstaple, so I knew it would be a day to savour and one that would live long in the memory - Devon know how to stage a cup final.
It was a fantastic event and Brixham did the occasion proud - a thrilling game ensuing and a nail-biter for the crowd, with a drop goal the only score that eventually separated the sides as Barum ran out 28-25 winners.
However, despite the thrilling display of rugby and tremendous effort put in by the players, it was to be one of those matches that will be tinged with sadness.
Mike Browne (pictured above), Brixham's influential number 8, was seriously injured just after kick-off and subsequently replaced, but only two days later was the full shock of what happened actually able to sink in.
Browne was later diagnosed with a broken neck and underwent a 6.5-hour operation at Plymouth's Derrisford Hospital, where two bones in his neck were repaired with the aid of a titanium plate.
Report from thisisdevon
And things got worse for the Browne family when brother Kyle suffered a broken arm later in the match.
I love our sport - the passion, the emotion, the physicality - everything that it has to offer makes rugby union unique, and long may it stay that way.
But sometimes, when things like this happen, for a second you wonder if the risks players' take are ever worth it.
Mike is likely to be unable to work for a very long time and at present it is unknown if he'll play rugby again. As for brother Kyle, in comparison a broken arm is almost a "got off lightly" consequence, but it is not and when people's livelihoods are at stake it is a huge price to pay for the "love of the game".
I never want to have that phone call again - I never want to see a serious injury report form again... but I would be prepared to bet that if the Browne brothers make full and speedy recoveries, they will be doing everything they can to be pulling on the Brixham jersey again.
With the support of their club and their families, I am sure both, especially Mike, will be back at Astley Park before we know it.
I wish them both good luck in their recoveries.
No comments:
Post a Comment