19 months ago Matt Hampson was seriously injured in a rugby scrum. He's paralysed from the neck down, but he finally came home in August after 17 months in hospital. Now Matt is back on the rugby pitch coaching sixth-form students at Oakham School. BBC Radio Leicester's Bridget Blair went along to one of his training sessions to watch Matt in action…Matt is overlooking rugby practice and giving the boys pointers on scrummages and line outs. | "I'm unable to speak very loud or as loud as I used to, but they listen up really well and they listen to every word I say." | | Matt Hampson |
He says he's really enjoying being a coach: "The lads are absolutely fantastic. I'm unable to speak very loud, or as loud as I used to, but they listen up really well and they listen to every word I say." Matt's also been teaching them the importance of good technique, as he says that if you play the game well, it's a lot safer. But what do the boys think of Matt's coaching? "He's brought so much to the squad and also to the rest of the school. His experience and his little technical points just improve us that 5-10%...and that can be the difference between winning and losing."  | | Matt Hampson training in 2004 |
The Director of Rugby at Oakham School, Ian Smith, says Matt is "one of his most valued coaches." His experience playing rugby at a very high standard and under rugby stars like Martin Johnson means that he has a lot to offer. Ian says that Matt is very popular with the boys: "The boys love him, absolutely love him, and there's no reason why he shouldn't be helping players here, there and everywhere. But hands off everybody else, Oakham have got him first!" | 
