Twickenham and Help for Heroes Calling Cohen One Last Time

In May of this year, Ben Cohen brought his two-season stay at Sale Sharks to an end and hung up his boots, embarking on life as a rugby retiree. Given that he was just 32 years old at the time, punters would have been forgiven for branding his decision premature and rushed. Since then, the former England winger, who scored 31 tries in 57 appearances for his country and lifted the 2003 Rugby World Cup, has dumfounded his doubters with a groundbreaking and bold initiative – the Ben Cohen StandUp Foundation.

Although Cohen’s days as one of the world’s most barnstorming finishers were behind him, and he was never quite the same force after leaving his beloved Northampton Saints in 2007, it appeared as though he would wind down his playing days in the top flight of English domestic competition. However, mediocrity evidently sat rather awkwardly. His endeavours to stamp out bullying have been anything but.

When I catch up with him, Cohen has just returned from a tour to drive consciousness of his brand, and its essential message, across the United States. Proud and articulate, you sense his second professional calling in life is working out nicely.

“Yeah, it’s been going well,” he smiles. “We are succeeding in breaking down stereotypes about homophobia in sport and bullying in general. We are all about creating awareness of the long-term effects that bullying can have on people and we have done plenty of that.

“It’s funny, over in America I am only known for the cause – not at all in a sporting context. I don’t mind that at all, though, because we have the backing of a lot of celebrities over in the States and they are making the Foundation a real success.”

Between his ambassadorial pursuits and spending time with his family – wife Abby and their twin daughters – Cohen has not afforded himself too much scope for retrospect. However, this Saturday he will tread the turf of English rugby HQ once more for a Northern Hemisphere invitational side managed by fellow Webb-Ellis winners Lawrence Dallaglio and Jason Leonard.

The match, against a corresponding team from the opposite hemisphere, is in aid of Help for Heroes and, featuring an eclectic mix of international talent, promises to light the gloom around Twickenham, at least for a few hours.

“I don’t miss rugby itself too much because I played at the top level over 15 years and I’ve been very busy,” Cohen continues thoughtfully. “It’ll be nice to have a run out on Saturday at Twickenham, though. It will probably be the last game that I play and, as the fixture is for Help for Heroes, it’s very special because it’s something I really want to support.

“It’s important that we show our support as a nation and there is a global respect for the soldiers that go to war. We must understand that they are leaving their families behind in order to make the world a better place. For me, it is a no-brainer to play and help to raise some serious money.”

In a charming touch, a handful of military personnel are scattered across each XV. Ceri Cummings of the British Army lines up at full-back for the Northern Hemisphere, for example, sharing a backline with Will Greenwood. Likewise, the Australian Defence Force is represented by Tony Luxford at scrum-half for the South Hemisphere – All Black legend Justin Marshall waiting in the wings on the substitutes’ bench.

The occasion, brainchild of the tireless Brynn Parry, is sure to provide a perfectly fitting tribute to our troops and Cohen’s excitement is suitably offset by a touching humility.

“I’ve had a chat with some of the forces’ medical staff and they’ve talked me through some of their experiences,” he explains. “It’s enlightening. They are doing a similar job to rugby physios, except that they are doing it on the front line. The pressure they work under is completely different. It’s a bit of fun for them at the weekend, as well as us, but all of it is for a very serious cause. There’s respect all round, really.”

Finishing pragmatically and without bravado, Cohen is not too hopeful that his own performance will be free of cobwebs and dust.

“My lungs are burning already after one training session,” comes an honest admission. “Thankfully, it’s a rolling substitutes set-up so I’ll be on and off very quickly. It’ll be a hard game though, because we are all competitive people at the end of the day.

“We know it’ll be a hard-fought win for Help for Heroes either way,” he adds, letting his guard down right at the end before scrambling to recover. “Sorry, a hard-fought game, we haven't won anything yet!”

Maybe Cohen’s slip-up shows he is missing rugby more than he lets on. It might be just as well that he has a chance to dust off those boots for one more go.

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Ben Cohen will be playing an all star Northern Hemisphere XV in the Heroes Rugby Challenge supported by JP Morgan on Saturday 3 December 2011 at Twickenham Stadium. The match, which kicks off at 1630, aims to raise a substantial sum of money for Help for Heroes. Ticket prices start at £15 for adults, £10 for under 16’s. For more information please visit: www.heroesrugby.org.uk