Hull FC are delighted to announce that Wheelchair player and the club’s Community Foundation Pathways Officer Steve Sampher has been included in Team UK for the upcoming Invictus Games!
The former army veteran with over 26 years of service under his belt, reaching the rank of Staff Sergeant, will compete in a range of sports at the games later this year, including Wheelchair Basketball, Sitting Volleyball, Archery, Table Tennis and Wheelchair Rugby.
First founded in 2014 by Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, using the power of sport to inspire recovery, support rehabilitation and generate a wider understanding and respect for wounded, injured and sick Servicemen and women, the games will return for their sixth edition September, hosted in Dusseldorf, Germany.
Having left the service in April 2022, Steve is now working with the club to support other veterans on their recovery pathway, as well as developing and maintaining partnerships with traditional armed forces and veterans’ agencies, representing the Foundation within the Hull Military Covenant Forum, and exploring communication strategies to reach new armed forces and veterans who are facing challenges with loneliness and isolation.
Steve is also a key part of both the Hull FC and Army Wheelchair Rugby League teams, and even led the latter on an overseas tour of Australia.
He will be involved in this weekend’s fixture against Warrington Wolves as part of the Betfred Wheelchair Super League’s ‘Inclusion Round’!
In 2012, Steve sustained life-changing injuries while in Afghanistan serving as a Troop Sergeant, when his vehicle he was commanding was hit by an IED.
His leg was badly injured and he was shot in the helmet on the follow up attack which resulted in a traumatic brain injury. Steve would later have his leg amputated after numerous operations, infections and complications to sustain the leg.
After applying for the Invictus Games previously, Steve is thrilled to now be selected for Team UK and hopes it will aid his ongoing recovery.
“Ten years on from sustaining my injuries in Afghanistan, I still find daily challenges a struggle, especially when it comes to my mental health – I find my emotional attachment and empathy levels have significantly decreased.
“I am hoping that by being part of a team and sharing in this journey with the Invictus family will allow me to share in their emotional experience and help me rekindle my emotions.
“I’m looking forward to using sport to help me regain my focus and drive and go beyond mere ‘recovery’ and inspire me to strive not just in competition, but also create awareness that some injuries run deeper than what people see.”
Crediting his roles at Hull FC and Combat Stress (a mental health helpline for veterans) as aiding his own recovery after receiving support through their recovery pathway programmes, Steve feels that helping other veterans has given him back a sense of purpose, leading to him discovering his love of wheelchair rugby league in recent years.
“Since I sustained my injuries, it’s been a very long and challenging journey and I have struggled physically with my health with numerous complications involving surgeries, infections, blood clots, damaged lungs which meant a long period of pulmonary rehabilitation, amputation and learning to adapt as an amputee.
“However, after many trials and tribulations with prosthetics and reconstructive surgeries, I am now able to walk again and the wheelchair and crutches are gathering dust in the garage.
“However, the mental health side of things has also been very dark at times and I have spent periods in psychiatric hospitals. I have often had thoughts of being a burden on my family and others, often shutting myself away in the garage, and isolating myself from everyone and everyday activities and social occasions.
“I also struggle with showing and feeling emotion, even towards my family, and I really want this Invictus journey to help me try and experience the highs and lows of the Games within a team environment.
“I’m looking forward to being around fellow veterans and all working towards the same goals, competing on a global stage and I hope to make a difference and my family proud, sharing in the joys and excitement of being part of Team UK.
“I just can’t wait to get started and haven’t stopped smiling and I think it has already allowed me to become driven and focused and my family can already see the difference going on this Invictus journey has meant to me.”
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