Tumour patient's Boxing Day charity match
Nearly three years after he was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumour, Chae Jenkins took to the pitch for Boxing Day.
Chae, who had previously represented Cornwall Under 20s at Twickenham Stadium in the county championship finals and had ambitions of playing rugby professionally, played his last game in April 2019.
Six months after undergoing leg-lengthening surgery, Chae noticed imbalances in strength and was subsequently diagnosed with a rare pilocytic astrocytoma, inoperable due to its location.
He had a biopsy in 2020 which showed the tumour, which was initially thought to be grade 4, was actually low-grade. He underwent combined radiotherapy and chemotherapy followed by a further six months of chemotherapy.
Having been told he would never take to the rugby pitch again, Chae organised a Boxing Day charity match at his boyhood club in Launceston, raising over £4,500 in the process for Brain Tumour Research through online and cash donations, as well as a raffle which was held in the clubhouse following the game.
An invitational ‘Chae XV’ faced a Launceston XV in the festive match played in front of a packed crowd. Chae’s younger brother Tage captained the side, which won 32-5.
Childhood friend and Northampton Saints prop Alfie Petch also took to the pitch for ‘Chae XV’, which ran out in a specially made kit designed by Chae himself.
Alfie said: "I’ve known Chae all my life. I was born on the 21st of December and he was born a few days later so we’ve grown up with each other and have done everything together. When we found out the news in that first few months it was difficult for us to process. It was heartbreaking.
"It was awesome to play in the game. I explained the situation to Saints and I can’t thank them enough for letting me play. It was amazing to be a part of it, there was just so much love.
"I’m just really proud of him and how he has approached everything he is going through. His brother Tage has been his carer and deserves a lot of credit for helping him and his mum Maggie has also been through so much so I’m thinking of them both."
In the closing seconds of the match, with a lineout on the opposition five-metre line, Chae took to the pitch and scored off the back of a driving maul in the same spot he scored his last competitive try.
He said “It was great to see so many people out and supporting on Boxing Day. We raised money for Brain Tumour Research, which is a cause means a lot to me and my family.
"Not many people knew this, but just after I was diagnosed I bought myself a new pair of rugby boots, and told myself that if I ever get to play again, it'll be in these boots. It was a special moment being able to wear them for the game.
“I’d like to thank everyone for their donations and for coming together to make the day such a success.”
