Bone marrow donor urgently needed for rugby player

Members of the rugby community have rallied around Ellis Joseph since his leukaemia diagnosis

The West Country's rugby community is coming together in an attempt to find a bone marrow match for a player who has been diagnosed with leukaemia.

Ellis Joseph, 27, who plays for Bristol team Old Redcliffians, has been told by doctors that he needs a bone marrow transplant but a person with a genetic match is yet to be found.

Gloucester club Longlevens RFC is asking supporters to get tested at a charity match against South Western Ambulance Service on Saturday, to find an individual who could potentially save Mr Joseph's life.

The test is done with a swab in the nose and mouth, similar to an at-home Covid-19 test, and takes two minutes.

Mr Joseph plays for Bristol rugby team Old Redcliffians

Longlevens RFC has teamed up with African Caribbean Leukaemia Trust, as finding a match for Mr Joseph has been proving difficult due to his mixed heritage.

With only half-siblings, he is looking for a stranger who is a good match.

Former Old Redcliffians player Paul Watson has helped organise the push for a bone marrow match.

"He's 27. It's no age to be getting an illness like this that could take his life if we do not find a match for him," Mr Watson said.

"Every year in the UK, there's over 2,000 people that need a stem cell transplant.

"Only 3% of the UK are registered on the stem cell donation register, and only 0.5% of them are African Caribbean and mixed heritage."

Mr Watson said an "ideal candidate" is aged between 16 and 30, but testing can be done on people aged up to 55.

He added: "There's some paperwork to fill out and then it's literally just a swab in your nose and in your mouth and that's it."

The testing is taking place at Longlevens RFC, Longford Lane, from 12:00 BST on Saturday.

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