We talk about it all the time here at Bottom of the Ruck and on our social media accounts. Rugby clubs are built around people who are willing to give their time to others. Coaches that share their wisdom with the next generation of players, volunteers making chaos look easy, and those that do whatever is needed to help their club.

Without these people rugby doesn’t happen.

At Cheddar Valley RFC, Damien Green has long been one of those people.

Now, his teammates are stepping forward for him.

Cheddar players have launched fundraising efforts to help their 2025/26 Club Captain undergo private surgery following a serious rugby injury that left him living with constant pain and mobility issues. 

Following the injury, Damien was diagnosed with a Lumbar Disc Herniation causing Nerve Root Compression. The condition resulted in severe sciatica along with numbness, tingling and weakness in his legs. He has now been waiting more than six months for surgery through the NHS, with no indication of when the procedure might take place.

That wait means prolonging the pain that he endures daily.

A specialist advised that surgery could potentially take place within the next month. Only if it can be funded privately. From there, the hope is that along with rehabilitation Green returns to running within six months.

“I’ve been truly blown away and humbled by a group of people that I have the honour and pleasure of calling my friends. It’s fair to say that due to injury, the last 8 months have been more than difficult,” said Damien Green in a post on the fundraising campaign site. “It is so easy to take for granted simple daily activities.”

For his teammates at Cheddar, helping Damien get there is about giving back to someone who spent much of his life doing exactly that for others.

Damien proudly served in the Royal Navy before working as a paramedic for more than 20 years. Today, he continues to care for patients through his role within the NHS.

Then there is rugby.

As Cheddar RFC’s Club Captain, Damien gives countless hours to the club. His contribution goes well beyond the playing field. He supports junior rugby and regularly helps with the tedious tasks required to keep a grassroots rugby club running.

So, his teammates decided that it is their turn to look after him.

Players are organizing a series of fundraising challenges and events to help cover the cost of Damien’s surgery and subsequent rehabilitation.

For their first challenge they went big. As in mountain sized big.

This past weekend, Cheddar RFC players tackled the National Three Peaks Challenge climbing Ben Nevis (Scotland), Scafell Pike (England) and Yr Wyddfa (Wales) within 24 hours. The challenge involves a total walking distance of about 37-42 km (23-26 miles), an ascent of around 3064 meters (10,052 feet), and driving distance of 743 km (462 miles). 

The players successfully completed the challenge in support of their Captain. These efforts pushed the fundraising even closer to their goal. 

More fundraising events are expected to follow, with the club also encouraging anyone who wants to support Damien to get involved or even organize an event of their own.

Every donation, regardless of size, gets Damien a little closer to receiving the treatment he needs and beginning his recovery. For those unable to contribute financially, simply sharing his story with friends, family, teammates and the wider rugby community can help extend its reach.

This is one of the most amazing parts of the rugby community. The words “With You” mean so much more to us. When someone needs help, we turn up whether you’re on the pitch or out in life.

“To me, rugby is a family game that extends far away from the pitch,” adds Damien. “No words will ever convey the depth of gratitude I feel for what they are trying to do, and just as importantly to all those who have found it in their hearts to contribute.”

Rugby clubs rally around their own and Cheddar Valley RFC is doing exactly that.

To learn more about the fundraising efforts, please follow this link. 

At Bottom of the Ruck, we believe every grassroots club is built on people that care. 

Stand with Cheddar. Share the link. Donate if you can.