Terminally ill Navy veteran, 23, meets his rugby hero Marcus Smith after family’s heartfelt online plea
A TERMINALLY ill Royal Navy veteran met his rugby hero Marcus Smith after a heartfelt online plea by his family.
Toby Brann, 23, is battling Stage Four of a rare form of cancer called adrenal cortisol carcinoma.
He served five years in the Navy including a memorable spell aboard the aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth during exercises in the US.
The young sailor had always wanted to watch England play rugby at Twickenham with his father Rob.
So Rob, a Commander serving in the Surface Flotilla based in Devonport, Plymouth, and his wife Helen issued an appeal across social media to try to help fulfil Toby’s dream.
The former SAS soldier and best-selling author Chris Ryan picked this up and it went viral on X (formerly Twitter).
Rugby organisation Rugby4Heroes, which supports injured soldiers and the families who have lost loved ones, then gave Toby and Rob tickets for the Ireland match on Saturday.
Volunteer and member Mike Vallance donated his own tickets to the pair.
He said: “It was the least I could do for a young man who has served his country and is showing such courage in such difficult circumstances.”
Toby, who is now wheelchair-bound, said: “The match was superb, England were awesome and the whole stadium was jumping – the atmosphere was terrific.
“I could not have wished for a better day and then to meet Marcus after the match and his amazing drop goal was just the icing on the cake.
“I am just so grateful for everyone who made this possible especially Rugby4Heroes and the brilliant staff at Twickenham. Thank you for a very special day.”
Smith, who came on as a substitute in the 60th minute, gave England a 23-22 Six Nations victory over Ireland with a last-gasp drop goal.
At the end of the game, the fly-half raced from the West Stand tunnel area right across the pitch to the East Stand to meet up with his family and his girlfriend, where Toby and his father were sitting.
Rob said: “At the end of the match, with England players finishing their lap of honour to rapturous applause, Marcus Smith came over to the area we were in to celebrate with his family members.
“I approached his girlfriend and explained Toby’s situation and his terminal illness and that he would love to have a photo with Marcus.
“She duly asked Marcus, who came over to chat with Toby. What a fantastic day.
“The amazing reaction to Chris Ryan sharing our story, the generous donation of tickets, the accommodating helpfulness of staff at Twickenham and the great atmosphere created by the fans.
“Everyone helped make way for Toby’s wheelchair and laughed and joked with us – and, of course, two fantastic rugby teams treated us to an amazing game of rugby – an experience which has touched our hearts and created a lasting memory for all of us.”
Smith said: “It was great to share that moment pitch side with Toby and his dad and to celebrate the win with them.”
Toby also went home with a unique souvenir – Marcus’s muddy England shorts.
Adrenal cortisol carcinoma
Adrenal cortical cancer (ACC) is very rare.
It is also known as adrenocortical carcinoma.
ACC starts in the outer layer of the adrenal glands, which are next to the kidneys.
The adrenal glands are small glands that make hormones that control important body functions.
Cancer that starts in the inner layer of the adrenal glands is called phaeochromocytoma.