There’s a growing rumpus in B.C.’s rugby community over a mandatory national insurance program for players and officials that so far hasn’t paid a penny to a star athlete paralyzed when he broke his neck during a recent match.

It’s being described on the B.C. Rugby News website as “beyond disconcerting” and “a disgrace” — perhaps with good reason.

Judah Campbell, described by clubmates as “a fantastic human being” and “an inspiration to everyone in his life,” had just obtained his BA from UBC and was planning to apply to medical school.

All that changed when he was injured in a career-ending collision while playing scrumhalf for the Kelowna Crows Rugby Football Club on Oct. 5.

Campbell had been voted by his teammates’s as their most valuable player from 2008 to 2010, chosen most valuable back in first division rugby in 2011 and was chosen UBC Okanagan’s most valuable varsity player the same year.

The severe spinal cord injury left him initially unable to move his body below the neck.

Later, he became able to move the toes on one foot but was not his hands. He was completely paralyzed on his right side.

More recently, his family reports on the Facebook page they set up, Judah’s been able to flex his knees and ankles.

He’s even been able to walk — barely, and only with assistance — but the progress is such that being able to move one finger a millimetre more over three days was reported last weekend as “fantastic news.”

Less than fantastic is the news that despite the national program under which Rugby Canada requires every player, manager, coach, official, volunteer or auxiliary worker to carry its catastrophic injury insurance, Judah, now unable to hold a pencil or glass of water, has so far been a charity case.

“Until the day of the injury, Judah was self-employed,” says his club in a plea for assistance. “He has no work disability insurance. He cannot collect Employment Insurance. The rugby insurance he thought he was protected by only covers full paralysis as a paraplegic or quadriplegic. Despite the fact that Judah cannot use his hands, walk, or move his body unassisted in a coordinated manner (as he has very limited movement in his legs and arms) he therefore does not fit into their definition of a ‘paraplegic’ or ‘quadriplegic.’

The club is aiming to raise $100,000 — the same amount Rugby Canada cites as the benefit available to members who are left quadriplegic, paraplegic or hemiplegic as a result of an injury sustained in a sanctioned activity — to help defray Judah’s medical and rehabilitation costs, provide for the constant care he requires and to help with his future adjustment to life outside hospital.

His fellow players have been stepping up. Surrey Beavers donated $2,500, Edmonton’s Dog River Howlers came up with $1,000, rugby unions in Ireland and South Africa have contacted the Crows and there have been scores of individual donations.

So where’s Rugby Canada’s insurance program in all this? Well, the national body is hosting a website appealing for tax deductible donations to Judah which will be processed through its vendor in Texas.