A rugby player who was diagnosed with leukaemia at the age of 26 has sadly passed away at the age of 27. Old Redcliffians RFC, Mr. Joseph’s former Bristol club, confirmed that he “passed away peacefully at his family home”. Ellis Joseph had been the focus of a campaign #TryForEllis for a year, aimed at finding a bone marrow donor. The club stated that “countless people” joined the stem cell register because of the campaign, indicating that his legacy can live on even after his death.
Mr. Joseph had shown “immense courage” before he died, and the spokesperson expressed that those who knew him would be able to recall the bravery and strength he demonstrated during the disease. “Remarkably, his sense of humour never wavered, and he remained the same comedic, light-hearted spirit we all loved,” they added. The team will observe a minute’s silence before games against Taunton and Chosen Hill, and his memory will live on in every player.
Mr. Joseph had been playing rugby with Old Redcliffians RFC since he was a junior, and the club highlighted the incredible achievement of him earning over 100 national league caps there. He was also picked to play for Somerset and became part of the historic team that lifted the Bill Beaumont County Championship Division 2 Cup at Twickenham. The team expressed that although he would be “greatly missed,” his memory would live on in all of them.
Leukaemia is a kind of blood cancer affecting blood cells in the bone marrow. According to Blood Cancer UK, the most common symptoms are fatigue, bruising and bleeding easily, repeated infections with high temperatures, unexplained weight loss, and swollen lymph nodes.
Even though Mr. Joseph had gone through a stressful time, he remained brave and light-hearted. His smile and impact will be remembered by his family, his friends and his teammates
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