Ben Cohen Earns Praise for His Participation in Grand Slammers' Prison Rugby Rehab Amidst the Tragic Loss of His Father

 

Ben Cohen Earns Praise for His Participation in Grand Slammers' Prison Rugby Rehab Amidst the Tragic Loss of His Father

The 45-year-old former England rugby star reunited with his old teammates, who famously clinched the World Cup in 2003, to engage in a unique initiative at HMP The Mount. In this endeavor, Ben Cohen joined forces with rugby legends like Martin Johnson, Mike Tindall, Lawrence Dallaglio, and Jonny Wilkinson, as showcased in a documentary. Their mission? To train a team of rookie prisoners for a thrilling match against a squad comprised of correctional officers.

Although Ben initially had reservations about this opportunity, his dancer fiancee, Kristina Rihanoff, who he partnered with on Strictly Come Dancing in 2013, expressed concern that this endeavor might trigger traumatic memories from his past. Those memories revolved around the tragic loss of Ben's father, Peter Cohen, in 2000. Peter succumbed to a blood clot, a month after he was assaulted while attempting to break up a brawl in his nightclub.

The attackers were subsequently sentenced to three years for violent disorder, serving only eighteen months, a fact that Ben found deeply unsatisfactory. He shared, "I hope it haunts them for the rest of their life, as it has me." Reflecting on the emotional toll this ordeal had on him, Ben acknowledged the internal turmoil it caused but emphasized his father's desire for him to keep moving forward.

Despite his personal pain, Ben's decision to participate in the documentary garnered admiration from viewers, particularly given the challenges he faced. Supporters praised his courage and determination, acknowledging the difficult circumstances surrounding his involvement.

One fan tweeted, "Such a difficult decision for Ben to go into the prison after what happened to his beloved dad. Credit where credit is due." Another supporter noted, "Fair play to all the 2003 England Rugby team taking part in this, but especially Ben Cohen. Clearly not an easy one for him, but he's taking no sh*t. And fair play, they all seem to have their total respect."

Viewers were quick to commend Ben's performance during the documentary, with one person stating, "How good is @RugbyBenCohen on Grand Slammers! Credit to you, Ben!" Others highlighted his unwavering commitment to the prisoners' training, emphasizing that he made his point loud and clear, and the inmates listened attentively.

Recognizing the emotional difficulty of Ben's involvement, one viewer remarked, "It must have been so hard for him to be involved with the documentary." Some even shared their own struggles, with one viewer admitting, "I don't think I could deal with the anger Ben Cohen's story would cause me."

In a lighter moment during the documentary, Mike Tindall's mother-in-law, Princess Anne, made a cameo appearance while Mike and teammate Phil Vickery discussed the rehab program at Royal Ascot. Mike humorously suggested, "You can join the coaching staff if you'd like," showcasing the camaraderie and lighthearted moments that were part of this impactful project.