Warren Gatland dinner raises thousands for disability sport

An Evening with Warren Gatland, sponsored by Thomas Sport, raised more than £7,000 for Kent Cricket's disability programme and wheelchair rugby.

Giles Hilton of Canterbury RFC was host and auctioneer for the evening held at The Spitfire Ground, St Lawrence on Thursday with more than 150 guests in attendance.

The Wales head coach spoke for more than an hour on his experiences of playing and coaching at Wasps, Wales, New Zealand and the victorious British and Irish Lions tour of Australia in 2013.

After the VIP three-course dinner, an auction included signed Lions and Wales shirts and hospitality packages for Wales v England RBS Six Nations rugby clash next month and the Kent v Australia cricket tour match at The Spitfire Ground, St Lawrence on June 25-28.

Sponsors Thomas Sport provide assessments that empower athletes and coaches to achieve excellence through understanding of behavioural and emotional traits.

Proceeds from the event will be split between Kent Cricket and Canterbury RFC's disability departments.

The Kent Cricket disability programme, based at the new facility at The County Ground, Beckenham, provides coaching and competitions for players with learning disabilities and visual impairments.

Kent Cricket CEO Jamie Clifford said: “We were delighted to see so many people come to hear a rugby legend speak and raise funds for disability sport. Once again it demonstrates what a large part sport plays in our lives and reminds us how powerful it can be in the development of key social and life skills of children with disabilities.

"The Kent Cricket community team are out around the county delivering a range of programmes for disabled children and our aim is to give everyone in Kent the chance to experience cricket.”

Canterbury Wheelchair RFC train every Sunday at Canterbury High with the Team GB paralympic captain Steve Brown as lead coach.