Ellie's a type 1 rugby star
A ticket to a Northampton Saints game set a young girl with diabetes on a new sporting path that quickly became her passion.
Ellie Tiller, now 13, was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes when she was eight. She went through ups and downs with her family as she learned to managing her condition.
Then, when her dad was doing decorating work at the Saints’ Franklin’s Gardens, he was given tickets to a home game and took Ellie along to watch her first rugby match. She loved watching the team and started going regularly with her dad to watch the Saints.
Last year, she plucked up the courage to try playing rugby and went to Northampton Casuals RFC to give the sport a go.
“I’d been encouraging Ellie to play rugby herself for a while,” said her mum Sarah. “She’d been nervous about going but before the first session I talked to the coaching team at Casuals and to Northampton General Hospital’s diabetes team and felt really reassured about Ellie taking part. She hasn’t looked back - she absolutely loves it.”
Ellie is now a regular at the Northampton Casuals ground, playing loose-head prop for the Under 14 girls’ team and she says she’d like to see more in the media about athletes and rugby players with diabetes.
“I love playing rugby and being part of Casuals makes me feel part of something, it’s a really friendly and welcoming club. The best thing about playing rugby is I’ve made good friends outside of school and I love being part of a team, the girls in my team always look out for me,” says Ellie.
“Her teammates are amazing,” agrees Sarah. “They do look out for her and don’t question it. The diabetes is just part of who Ellie is. Playing prop is ideal for her as she has great strength and absolutely loves the physical challenge of it. Rugby also gives Ellie a bit of a release from everyday life, it’s a game of emotion and aggression and gives her that much-needed outlet.”
The diabetes team from Northampton General Hospital spoke to the family about Ellie taking part in rugby and reassured them about her wearing her insulin pump and sensor while playing.
They commented: “Type 1 diabetes is a lifelong condition that currently does not have a cure, however with the amazing technology coming through now and ongoing research we hope one day we can say there is a cure to type 1 diabetes.
“As a team we encourage our young people to take part in sport and activities just like anyone else. Ellie has type 1 diabetes, but this is just a very small part of who she is, there is so much more to Ellie than diabetes and she goes out there and shows that, despite her condition, she can do the same as everyone else. Well done Ellie, your diabetes team are very proud of you!”
The coaching team at Northampton Casuals has been with Ellie and her family every step of her journey into rugby. Coach Vickie Dillon-Davies said: “Rugby is for everyone. It’s a fantastically inclusive game and anyone who wants to should have the chance to play. Not only is Ellie a really talented and valued player, she is an inspiring role model to other young people, showing that diabetes doesn’t stop you from doing what you want to do.”
Ellie will certainly be keeping her boots on at Casuals and hopes one day to be back at Northampton Saints, with ambitions to be part of the staff as a future physio for the team!
