TAYLOR GOUGH

Taylor was a 20-year-old professional rugby player with Leicester Tigers, the same club that Matt Hampson belonged to at a similar age, when his world changed with spinal injury.

During his time in hospital, Taylor struggled to accept the different course that his life would take and was devastated to lose the career he’d always dreamed about. But he joined the Foundation in October 2020 and started physiotherapy and personal training sessions to help improve his mobility and rebuild his strength while also benefiting from Matt’s mentorship as someone who had been through a similar experience.

Taylor joined the Leicester Tigers Wheelchair Rugby Team, gained a place on the Foundation’s Athlete Development Programme and then found success as a para-canoeist, gaining a podium place on his debut at European Championship level in 2025.

He says: “I can’t put into words the positive impact the Matt Hampson Foundation has had on my physical and mental well-being in such a short space of time.

“It was so motivating for me when I was in hospital knowing I had such an incredible place to come out to which would help with my development. I have become much more mobile and independent since coming to the Centre.”

Taylor received the Henry Love Award, as voted by fellow beneficiaries, at the Foundation’s in 2023 as someone who wants to support others, is a great team member, makes an impression on the lives of others and is a great role model and in 2025 he married Kylie Grimes, an Olympic gold-medal winning wheelchair rugby player and Foundation ambassador.