Jack Merritt Memorial Rugby Match Raises £1,700 for Break
6 May 2025
We would like to say a big thank you to the All Greys Rugby Club of Cambridge University, who hosted the annual Jack Merritt Memorial Match on 26th April and raised over £1700 for Break!
The annual match honours the life of Jack Merritt, a passionate former criminology student at the University of Cambridge, who was one of the two people who tragically lost their lives during the 2019 London Bridge terrorist attacks.
Jack was not just an exceptional rugby player but also a passionate advocate for prisoner rehabilitation. After completing his master's in criminology, he dedicated his life to improving the criminal justice system and helping prisoners rebuild their lives. He was working for a project called Learning Together, an initiative of the Criminology Department at the University of Cambridge, at Fishmongers' Hall in London when he was tragically killed, at the age of 25.
Jack’s parents, Dave and Anne, explained how they came to choose Break as the beneficiary of the event. " We first became aware of Break through the Cows about Cambridge sculpture trail in 2021, where we learned about the work they do with young people in care. Jack had worked closely with prisoners, and many of those he helped had been in the care system. He was preparing to decorate one of the cows with some prisoners at Warren Hill Prison in Suffolk, at the time he was killed. We wanted to ensure that Jack's legacy continued through supporting young people who had faced a challenging start and Break seemed like the perfect match to honour his memory," said Dave Merritt.
Dave added, “It is of course a difficult time for us when the match comes around each year, as Jack was taken from us far too soon. But it’s also a positive day. We know the money raised is going toward something that Jack valued so much. It's a joyful event which celebrates a very special person, and one that raises money for such an important cause.”
The match featured All Greys Rugby Club of Cambridge University against an invitational team, the Jack Merritt XV, consisting of former players and alumni. Jack’s friends, teammates, and the wider Cambridge community all came together and celebrated his life.
To learn more about becoming a fundraiser or setting up your own event, visit our fundraising pages.