Matt Hampson says he was honoured to be invited by Geordan Murphy to speak to the Leicester Tigers at Oval Park today.

He joined the players, coaches and staff to share his story, from his childhood and coming through the ranks at Tigers, to playing age-group rugby with England and the accident which left him paralysed from the neck down.

Tigers life member Matt told his audience: “All I ever wanted to do was play professional rugby for Leicester Tigers.

“Since day one, they’ve backed me in everything that I’ve done.

“I didn’t achieve what I initially had planned in my life, but I’m doing things I never thought I would do.

“If I could play for Tigers one more time, I would die a happy man.

“This accident happened for a reason and I now I have the ability to have an impression on other people’s lives. We all have a decision to make. I chose to Get Busy Living.”

Hampson took to Twitter after his talk, and tweeted: “Very honoured to be asked by my friend @geordanmurphy to talk to the @LeicesterTigers boys today”

Interim head coach Murphy described Matt as “inspirational” after the talk.

“No matter how many times I hear the story, Matt continues to inspire me,” Murphy said. “He’s just amazing.”

The Matt Hampson Foundation’s Get Busy Living Centre will be officially opened on October 2.

Located near Melton Mowbray, the Get Busy Living Centre is a long-held personal ambition of Matt’s and will be a focal point where people affected by life-changing injuries can make use of the start-of-the-art facilities, meet fellow beneficiaries and relax in peaceful surroundings.

Scroll down to watch our LTTV chat with Matt at the Get Busy Living Centre earlier this summer.