THE 67,000 supporters attending Sunday's (15 February) RBS 6 Nations Championship between Scotland and Wales at BT Murrayfield have a chance to help an injured rugby player on the next stage of his "journey.” Connor Hughes, a 20-year-old Stirling University student, sustained a serious neck injury while playing at outside-centre for his university against Harris Academy FP earlier this season.

His family, team mates at university, former team mates at Earlston RFC and class mates at Merchiston Castle School have rallied round, as have two of Scottish Rugby's official charity partners, the Murrayfield Centenary Fund and Hearts and Balls.

With all this support and immense generosity from the wider rugby community, in Scotland and indeed from all over the globe, more than £65,000 has been raised, which has so far enabled Connor to travel to San Diego, where he is currently participating in an intense training programme to help his recovery.

This Sunday, supporters at BT Murrayfield will be able to text their support for Connor thanks to an initiative of Scottish Rugby and our charity partners.

Ian McLauchlan, the former Scotland captain and director of Hearts & Balls (pictured above at BT Murrayfield), said: "Rugby supporters are among the most generous people I know and it would be marvellous if supporters at the Scotland v Wales match this weekend could make a donation to Connor's appeal.

"All they will have to do is text CJST95 £(donation amount) to 70070 and every contribution will be very much appreciated.” Connor Hughes said: "I would like to thank everyone who has helped with fund-raising so far and made donations - it has helped me to be at Project Walk in San Diego where they are putting me through my paces on their Spinal Cord Injury Recovery Programme.

"Further specialised gym equipment will allow me to maintain the programme when I come back home.

"Good luck to the Scotland team on Sunday and here's to a great win at BT Murrayfield - I'll be watching so 'Stand Tall'!"

Meanwhile, Hearts & Balls are also encouraging Scotland's rugby clubs to improve their facilities to make them more accessible to people who have mobility issues.

Scottish Rugby launched a Club Sustainability Fund at the start of this season, which provides for some £1.6 million to be available to clubs over the next four years to enable clubs to improve their facilities and increase their revenue.

Now, Hearts & Balls are adding £70,000 over this season to augment Scottish Rugby's £400,000 and clubs, which are looking to better themselves, could also benefit from this new funding source.

McLauchlan, who is also a member of the Scottish Rugby Board, added: "It could be simple things like widening a door or refurbishing a toilet. Anything that makes a clubhouse or a club's facilities that bit more accessible to somebody who is disabled, we would like to support, as part of a club's application to the Club Sustainability Fund.

"Scottish Rugby is determined to remove any barriers and we are also keen to encourage as many people as possible, whether able-bodied or disabled, to be part of the rugby family.” For more information on how you can support Connor Hughes please log on to www.connorsjourney.com/fundraising and for more details on Hearts & Balls visit www.heartsandballs.org.uk