Saturday 29 February 2020

More than just a rugby match: Danny Cipriani, Gloucester and #BeKind

Rugby was eclipsed by a far bigger issue as Gloucester hosted Sale Sharks in a match that was focused on raising awareness and funds for mental health support.

Sale may have narrowly beaten their hosts, but Gloucester boss Johan Ackermann was as keen to use his post-match interview to spread the message of loving one's neighbour as he was to diagnose where it went wrong for his side.

The game raised money for the Samaritans and was inspired by Gloucester fly-half Danny Cipriani's emotional tribute to former girlfriend Caroline Flack a week earlier.

For the evening, Gloucester players' names on the back of their shirts were replaced by the hashtag "BeKind".

My piece for The Times reflects on a match with a difference as well as Sale's heady ascent up the Premiership table.