Rugby family raising funds for Phil after MND diagnosis
The rugby family is rallying round to support a popular player, coach and school Head of Rugby who has been diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease (MND).
Phil Ubee has many friends and connections throughout the game, particularly in Kent. Having played for St Dunstan’s College, he went on to play for England U19s at fly half and Loughborough Colleges. He also played for Kent, Blackheath and Old Dunstonians rugby clubs as well as coaching at Sidcup, Old Elthamians and Old Dunstonian RFC.
He has for 20 years been Head of Rugby at Chislehurst and Sidcup Grammar School, having also been a sports and history teacher, and previously coached at Whitgift School for four years.
A fundraising page has been set up to help Phil, who supported so many players, cope with inevitable medical costs. Phil is also adamant that a donation is made to the MND Association, to help efforts to find a cure for those affected in the future.
RFU Past President Nigel Gillingham, who played alongside Phil for England U19s and for Loughborough in the Middlesex Sevens final said: “Phil has been a wonderful advert for the game, as an outstanding player, a great coach and probably most importantly as a schoolteacher bringing on future generations. I hope that the whole rugby family, as they have done with similar situations in the past, will support this important cause.”
Former England flanker, Mickey Skinner added: “Phil was my fly half at Blackheath when I first arrived from ‘Up North’. He tried to guide me in the right direction, but it was difficult to listen when laughing so much. But as Ubee Doobie couldn't drink or tackle, his wise head fell on stony ground at my feet. I should have listened as he is the finest of men!
“A lovely fly half with a brain and a sweet boot on him but more importantly for me as a flanker a proper bloke who happened to play in the backs. We've had so many laughs since our early playing days, but unfortunately it's not easy to speak, never mind laugh, when you have MND. I've been aware and supported MND fundraising through my mates, Scottish No 5 Doddie Weir and my England loosehead Paul Rendal contracting the disease, where both did so well to raise the profile while raising funds.
“Phil needs much more than individual mates can give right now. He needs some serious wedge to get him around his own home, to help conserve his energy day to day to better fight this toughest of oppositions. I'm reaching out to the wider audience of proper ladies and proper blokes out there to help us help him right now. A stairlift will mean Phil has enough breath at the top of his stairs to smile and say good night to his lovely lady Jo and family.
“At such a tough time at home, his daughter Lily has started fundraising for Phil and the MND Association, so please give whatever you can in the knowledge that it will be spent wisely and make a difference now for Phil and to others in the future.
A tribute match for Phil will also be held at Old Dunstonian RFC early in the new year.
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