Young rugby players’ positive impact in Middlesbrough
Two young rugby players showed up to help with the community clean up.
Joanna Wake and her 16-year-old son Ramsay, who plays for Stockton RFC, joined local people cleaning up after the rioting in Middlesbrough. As she went to buy more brushes to sweep up glass and debris, Joanna spotted a six-year-old helping his dad as everyone tried to make their neighbourhood whole again.
“We had gone from feeling so much shame and despair, to so much pride and community,” said Joanna. She asked if she could post pictures of little Sebastian Hockney who had insisted on cleaning up with his dad, David.
“His post went viral. I couldn't keep up with the notifications. Everyone was getting so much joy from it at a time when it was most needed after the weekend around the country. Thousands of comments of mass praise for him and his dad. His dad was alerted to how famous Sebastian had become and we later spoke via DM. I learned about Sebastian being a rugby player and I was talking about Ramsay. We spoke about our pride in these boys and the rugby values.”
Sebastian wanted to represent rugby
Sebastian’s dad David played rugby for Redcar when he was young and said: “I enjoyed playing as a kid and got so much out of it. I couldn’t wait to take Sebastian to our local club Acklam and it has really helped him, he’s come on so much. He wanted to wear his club hoody for the cleanup because he wanted to represent rugby and his team.”
Sebastian will be an England mascot at one of their Tests in the autumn and Ramsay will be there to watch him go out with the team.
Said Joanna: “It’s amazing to know that our boys from two local clubs will be there to watch England after helping to clean up from what was such an awful time for our region.”
Said RFU Chief Executive, Bill Sweeney: “Inclusion and diversity is fundamental in the sport of rugby union, and everyone is welcome. Those from rugby clubs who were out recently supporting the cleanup with the best of their communities, as well as the emergency workers who play and support the game and were keeping people safe, epitomised rugby’s values while making a real and positive difference.”
