LOCAL rugby clubs throughout Worcestershire are retiring their number 11 jerseys this weekend in a tribute to Evesham’s Jack Jeffery who died last weekend.
Mr Jeffery was playing for Evesham in their Midlands 2 West (South) league match at Berkswell and Balsall on Saturday February 12 when he was injured scoring a try.
He was taken to Walsgrave Hospital in Coventry, where he later died.
This weekend Evesham RFC have postponed all senior rugby matches but for other clubs in the county, they have decided to pay their respects in varying forms.
Worcester Warriors have confirmed there will be a minute’s applause ahead of their Gallagher Premiership match with Bristol Bears on Friday night.
Amateur clubs have opted to retire the number 11 shirt, the one Jack wore for his club Evesham, as a mark of respect for their games this weekend.
Malvern RFC and Kenilworth have taken this approach, with a minute of applause to be carried out before kick-off.
Droitwich RFC, Worcester RFC and Bromsgrove RFC will also applaud Jack, as well as not wearing the number 11 jersey, in their respective games on Saturday.
JACK JEFFREY – An update;
All our teams playing this weekend will celebrate Jack’s life with a minute’s applause.
Our 1st & 2nd XV have also decided to retire the No11 shirt for this weekend’s games as a mark of respect.#RIPJack @RFU
More at https://t.co/Fx1cF9KOld pic.twitter.com/fjtAW1Qhoe
— Worcester Rugby Football Club 🏉 (@WorcsRFC) February 17, 2022
Following the sad news from @EveshamRFC last week, as a mark of respect to Jack and to show our support to we will be retiring the No.11 jersey on Sat.
Our M&J section will join together at 11.15am on Sun for a minute of applause.
Our thoughts are with Jack’s family and friends. pic.twitter.com/6AuIpf0OXS
— Bromsgrove RFC (@Bromsgroverugby) February 17, 2022
DRFC will be resting the number 11 shirt this weekend for both seniors and mini/junior fixtures. We will also observe a minutes applause before our games in memory of Jack @EveshamRFC pic.twitter.com/jU75thycEq
— Droitwich RFC (@OfficialDRFC) February 17, 2022
Kidderminster Carolinians and Berkswell and Balsall will also wear black armbands during their match.
We’ll be having a minute of applause, in memory & celebration of Jack this Saturday.
We’ll also be retiring the number 11 shirt for the game, & both teams have agreed to wear black armbands as a sign of our support for Jack’s family, friends & our rugby compatriots at @EveshamRFC pic.twitter.com/JlcxqtMdCA
— Kidderminster Carolians 🐐 (@KCRFC1969) February 16, 2022
Upton will hold a minute’s applause before all senior and junior matches this weekend, as well as retiring all number 11 shirts throughout the club for the weekend.