Rugby / News
Old Redcliffians player Ellis Joseph dies at 27
Old Redcliffians player Ellis Joseph sadly passed away on Friday after battling leukaemia since January 2024.
A statement from the Brislington-based rugby club said: “Ellis was not only a cherished member of our community, but a true symbol of resilience.
“The support from all corners of the globe during the #tryforellis campaign was overwhelming, and it demonstrated the power of the bonds he formed with so many.
“Thanks to this campaign, countless people joined the stem cell register, and we will forever be grateful for that.
“Ellis’s achievements on the pitch are a testament to his dedication and talent. He earned over 100 national league caps with Old Redcliffians, a remarkable feat that few players achieve in their careers.”
‼️ Attention ‼️
To all 16-30 year old males, particularly the BAME community.
Ellis needs your help!
Ellis is in need of a donor match, for a life saving Bone Marrow Transplant after a diagnosis of Leukaemia. @BristolBears@BristolCity @SGSCollegeRugby @AnthonyNolan pic.twitter.com/Ov3FFH7tZV
— Old Redcliffians RFC (@OldRedsRFC) February 9, 2024
When Ellis was diagnosed, the campaign #tryforellis was launched in hopes of finding a stem cell match and encouraging others to sign up to the register.
Several high profile stem cell drives happened because of this, with teams close and far banding together to show support for Ellis.
In February 2024, around 300 people turned out to be swabbed to give a profile for the register, including Ellis’ teammates.
In May 2024, Gloucester club Longlevens also joined the appeal asking supporters to get tested at a charity match against the South Western Ambulance Service.
Doctors had told Ellis that because he only had half siblings, they wouldn’t be a close enough match. His mixed heritage would also make finding a match more difficult as they have more complex tissue types than others.
Over 2,000 people each year in the UK need a blood stem cell transplant, however, just 7 per cent of the entire eligible population in the UK are registered as potential donors.
According to the NHS website, only 37 per cent of transplant recipients from minority ethnic backgrounds receive the best stem cell donor match from an unrelated donor, compared to nearly 72 per cent for Caucasian people.
Due to the complexity, stem cell donor registers regularly appeal for Black African, Black Caribbean and Asian people to submit a swab.
Old Redcliffians and other teams will be observing a minute’s silence before their games this weekend as a mark of respect for Ellis.
Main photo: Old Redcliffians RFC
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