A ONE-OFF magazine is set to be published to raise money for the family of the former Welsh Dragonhearts full back Scott Bessant.
The magazine, ‘100 months of Rugby League in Wales’, has been produced by Wales Rugby League’s communications and profile manager Ian Golden.
Mr Bessant was found with life-changing injuries by a passer-by in Pentwyn Lane, Abersychan, in the early hours of Sunday August 13, in 2017 after spending the previous evening in the Little Crown pub.
The one-off publicaion will be a bumper 148-page magazine reprinting Mr Golden’s monthly columns from Rugby League World and Forty20 magazines printed over 100 months between January 2011 and April 2019.
It will also feature a number of guest contributors.
The proceeds from the magazine will go to two charities, Scott’s Angels and The Danny Jones Defibrillator Fund.
The cover of '100 months of Rugby League in Wales', which will raise money for Scott's Angels and The Danny Jones Defibrillator Fund. Picture: Ian Golden.
Mr Golden said: “Just over a year ago, I realised that I would be writing my 100th consecutive monthly column.
“I wanted to do something to mark it and thought that I could do something for charity.
“I knew Danny Jones very well from working with the Welsh national side and I was friends with Scott Bessant for many years.
“It’s actually been a really enjoyable experience. Over the last six months, I’ve spent time looking over every article so it’s been good to reflect.
“I’ve tried not to change much from the original articles, even if I’ve made predictions and they’ve gone atrociously wrong.
“Looking back on the columns, anything that reflects a good win for a Welsh side or an exciting development in regards to youth and community is a highlight – Wales beating England at under 16 level for the first time ever back in 2017 for example.
“But without a doubt my favourite pages are the double page spread originally printed in Forty20 dated September 2015.
“There I wrote about Ysgol Gyfun Gymraeg Glantaf winning at Wembley after reporting directly from the stadium on the day.
“It’s my wife’s former school and the magazine also printed her views on the day, in Welsh.
“I also celebrated 80 years of Rugby League’s European Championship and wrote about the WRL Grand Final.
“So it was a spread that covered many aspects of rugby league success in Wales.”
Scott Bessant. Picture: Naomi Bessant.
Mr Bessant was left in a coma until February 2018, and only recently returned home for the first time since the incident, spending a few hours with his family on Christmas Day.
It remains a mystery how the ex-Welsh Dragonhearts full back was hurt.
The magazine's printing will be funded by pre-orders and advertisements so it's essential to order in advance. All pre-orders before going to print will be recognised by being named in the magazine.
Costing just £10 plus postage and packing, it can be ordered at walesrugbyleague.co.uk/magazine.
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