Harry Wells has been nominated for the Gallagher Community Player of the Month Award for his work with the National Autistic Society.
With rugby currently suspended, there has been no action to allow the judging panel to select their Gallagher Premiership Rugby Player of the Month for March based on on-pitch performance. So, together with league title partner Gallagher, the award is being renamed as the Gallagher Community Player of the Month to find and applaud the player who has had the biggest social contribution to their local community in March.
Leicester Tigers forward Wells is an ambassador for the National Autistic Society and has been working to raise the profile of children with autism. He was an ambassador for Tigers’ first Inclusion Day at Welford Road and took on the 7k for 700k challenge during World Autism Awareness Week which inspired Tigers supporters to do likewise.
Voting is open now on the Premiership Rugby app. Log on to the app, click Polls and vote for your favourite before 10am on Tuesday (April 14). If you haven’t already downloaded the free Premiership Rugby app then click here for details of how to get it on your device.
As well as the Gallagher Premiership Rugby Player of the Month trophy, the player with the most votes for their contribution to the community will receive, courtesy of Gallagher, a shirt signed by all the players from their club to donate to a local charity and a donation to their local food bank or local NHS trust.
This month’s shortlist is as follows:
Bath Rugby – Ruaridh McConnochie
Nominated as a regular crisis volunteer for @GiveUsAShout and key supporter of #ShaveDonateNominate on Instagram raising £20,000 for the NHS in two weeks.
Bristol Bears – Callum Sheedy
As well as helping to promote the club’s shave or grow campaign, raising funds for Covid-19 research, Callum has worked closely with the club’s community foundation, including an online Q&A for members of the HITZ programme.
Exeter Chiefs – Ben Moon
As part of #MakeThatCall, Ben rang an elderly fan who is self-isolated on the edge of Dartmoor whose wife has been put into care recently.
Gloucester Rugby – Jamal Ford-Robinson
Nominated by fans for the prop’s dance routines on social media – “a credit to himself his sport and his club."
Harlequins – Paul Lasike
Nominated for his uplifting singing on social media and work with #MakeThatCall.
Leicester Tigers – Harry Wells
Shortlisted for his work in raising the profile of and engaging with children with Autism.
London Irish – Blair Cowan
Spearheaded the project from London Irish and Powerday delivering more than 100,000 meals to NHS hospitals.
Northampton Saints – Courtney Lawes
Met a young fan battling cancer in hospital before social distancing measures came into effect and remains in almost daily contact with him and his family.
Sale Sharks – Matt Sturgess
Nominated for supporting the Community Trust’s health and fitness campaign during lockdown.
Saracens – Calum Clark
Got involved in the club’s ‘Lockdown Letters’ campaign which has seen players and staff write to people in Feltham Young Offenders and HMP The Mount as part of their Get Onside campaign.
Wasps – Jimmy Gopperth
One of a number of Wasps players involved as they started the #MakeThatCall campaign.
Worcester Warriors – Niall Annett
Led a group of Warriors in helping collecting/delivering for house-bound fans and also being available on the phone to chat to any on their own.
