Will Jubb was two years old when diagnosed with eye cancer in 1999. Now 26, he tells us about the challenges he overcame to become a professional rugby player and how he hopes that he can inspire others.
My cancer journey began when I was two years old, when my mum noticed that my right eye flashed white instead of red when having my picture taken. Worried that something wasn’t right, she took me to the opticians and from there I was rushed to hospital for further checks, before being diagnosed with retinoblastoma. I subsequently had to have my right eye removed at St Bartholomew’s Hospital in London and even after the operation I still had to return to London every month until I was five, to ensure that the cancer hadn’t returned.
My younger brother, who was only two weeks old when I had my eye removed, also had to have checks at the same time as me to see whether he also had the cancer. This was obviously a very traumatic experience for me, my brother and the whole family, but especially my parents, as me and my brother were both so young that neither of us can really remember anything. Thankfully, all checks for both of us were clear and it was also found that the cancer wasn’t hereditary.
Despite me only having one eye, my dad was adamant that it wouldn’t hold me back and allowed me to do anything I wanted to. For as far back as I can remember, I was playing with different bats and balls with my dad and brother and have played every sport you can think of. I genuinely believe that doing this allowed me to adapt to having one eye and being so young at the time, I can’t remember anything different, which also helped.
While trying all these different sports, it became increasingly apparent that rugby was my favourite. However, owing to the game’s physical nature, my family had already been quite apprehensive about me playing it. I know they had a lot of difficult conversations, but I’m eternally grateful that they allowed me to try any sport or activity I wanted, and especially my dad for making sure I had the opportunity.
My journey to professional sports
I began playing rugby at Hull Wyke rugby league club when I was 10 years old. Having helped my dad when he was coaching my younger brother’s team, I decided one day that I wanted to have a go myself. After a few years, I was selected for a scholarship with Hull Kingston Rovers and went on to represent the club’s academy and first team. I made my debut for the first team in 2016 away at London Broncos and even managed to score. During my second year with them, I was sent out on loan to York City Knights to gain some more first team playing experience. From that first moment in 2017, I absolutely loved my time there and felt like it was the best place for me to develop and enjoy my time playing. I joined permanently in 2018 and have been at York ever since. I have had some fantastic experiences and gained many great memories throughout my time with the club, including playing at Wembley.
Learning to play rugby presented certain challenges, which meant I had to adapt in order to compete. This involved learning to turn my head more to one side to be able to see and how to protect myself in certain situations. This took time and some painful lessons, but as I progressed through the ages and ranks, I was able to pick things up from other players and learn from them, especially when I began playing with seasoned professionals. As I gained more experience, I had a better understanding of what I had to do to perform effectively and became better at protecting myself. I’m still always open to learning new skills and techniques, which I see as one of my best attributes. You never finish learning, and I’m always looking to better myself.
Giving back
Due to my association with York, I was lucky enough to be introduced to a Wilberforce Trust charity called Club Wilber, who had contacted the club after hearing my story. The charity supports children with visual impairments but is unique in that it provides activities for the whole family. As soon as I heard about the work it does, I was keen to get involved. I was honoured to be asked to be an ambassador for Club Wilber and first met with all the team at its launch night in early 2020. The COVID pandemic meant that I was unable to get involved too much until restrictions eased, but once that happened, I was able to meet the children and their families and help with activities.
They have such an amazing time and being able to help with that is priceless. It’s also been a great honour to have some of those the charity supports at York City Knights games and allow them on the pitch afterwards for pictures. They’re an inspiration to me and if knowing that I play rugby inspires them a fraction of how much they inspire me, then I’ll be extremely happy.
If I could offer one piece of advice to anyone in a similar position to myself, it’s possible to do anything you want to do and achieve what you set out to if you put your mind to it and work hard enough. I’ve never considered myself as any different to anybody else, and my competitive nature has meant that I have always wanted to be the best and endeavoured for perfection. I’m able to play a sport that I love and have achieved what I have wanted to achieve (I’ve also just completed a PhD in Fisheries Management) and hopefully others will be inspired by this to chase their own dreams, too.
From Contact magazine issue 98 - Spring 2023
