HEARTFELT tributes will be paid at England’s Six Nations clash with Wales to an Evesham rugby player who died while scoring a try for his beloved town side.
England Rugby confirmed Jack Jeffery would be remembered at Twickenham on Saturday (February 26) ahead of the game.
The news follows emotional scenes at Sixways on Friday (February 18) when Worcester Warriors presented two special shirts to honour the 27-year-old during the Gallagher Premiership match against Bristol Bears.
Jack, 27, died from injuries he sustained in the process of scoring a try at Berkswell & Balsall last Saturday.
Warriors invited Jack’s parents, Glenn and Angi, his twin brother Charlie, sister Daisy and her partner, Chris, along with Evesham’s first team, coaches, staff and officers to the Bristol match as special guests.
Glenn, Charlie and Daisy lined up with the Evesham squad for a minute’s applause before kick-off alongside the Warriors and Bristol teams.
At half-time club captain Ted Hill presented the Jeffery family and Evesham club with two Warriors shirts with the number 11 and the name Jeffery on the back and signed by the entire playing squad.
Evesham have announced that they will retire their number 11 shirt in perpetuity as a mark of respect to Jack and club’s across England will also retire their number 11 shirts this weekend.
After the Bristol match the Jeffery family were invited into the dressing room where hooker Niall Annett spoke movingly in extending the condolences of all at Sixways to them.
“We knew Jack’s family were here today and it was hard not to be emotional,” said lock Matt Garvey.
“That minute applause with the boys from Evesham was emotional. How can you not use that as a motivation to put in a performance.
“We had the family with us in the changing room with us at the end of the game. We had a beer with them, shared some words and offered our support.
“This club is all about community. We want to be a part of that. We want to help each other out. When they are hurting, we are hurting.
“We said to them that they were our lucky charm today. Niall did a great speech inside. That was our motivation for us today and hopefully that was something to be proud of for their family.”
