Liam Toland: World Sports Team is Ireland’s gift to the sporting world

The charity will raise awareness and generate support for those affected by catastrophic sports injuries

Australia’s Phillip Hughes: died two days after he was struck in the head by a ball. He had emergency surgery before being placed in an induced coma. Photo: Philip Brown/Reuters

The horrific passing of 25-year-old Australian cricketer Phillip Hughes from ‘a bouncer’ is all too tragic.

Tony Grabs, Trauma Director in Saint Vincent’s Hospital Sydney, simply noted that ‘the head injury he suffered was catastrophic’. Australia cricket team doctor Peter Brukner describes at length the impact of the ball on Hughes vertebral artery causing the artery to split resulting in bleeding going up into the brain.

That he had 26 Test matches with Australia is hardly relevant. But this week I attended the launch of a truly remarkable idea. That nobody thought of it until now is equally remarkable but considering the recently held Web Summit and the value of social media, the World Sports Team in many ways is Ireland’s gift to the world of sport. It is the global network for sportspeople………. see more at :- http://www.irishtimes.com/sport/rugby/liam-toland-world-sports-team-is-ireland-s-gift-to-the-sporting-world-1.2017829