Mike Sage and Phil James at the Newport Gwent Dragons community department are holding a collection of rugby kit at the Dragons home game on Friday in aid of the IRB SOS Kit Aid Appeal.
SOS IRB kit aid was started some four years ago by the current Chairman John Broadfoot. Initially after a visit by one of his sons to Romania John realized that children and young players in Romania could play the game of rugby but had an urgent need for proper rugby kit both for playing and training.
John found that so much kit was forthcoming not just from schools but clubs, manufacturers, and individuals that Romania was joined by Moldova and Georgia as recipients of the kit. The International Rugby Board soon realized the benefits to rugby could be enormous and joined forces with John to fund the whole operation.
SOS IRB kit aid was born. Kit is now collected throughout the four home rugby nations with collectors in most areas. All four regional teams have signed up to support us.
Friday night marks the first collection at the Dragons, the first of many.
More than 40 emerging Rugby nations are on the list for help but SOS IRB kit aid is only able to help nine Nations at present. Romania, Moldova, Georgia, Bulgaria, Ukraine, Poland, Czech Republic, Serbia and Croatia.
We are in desperate need for all types of Rugby kit to fit children from 7 to 18 year olds either individual items or whole sets Boots, Shirts, Shorts, Socks, Training Tops, Protective Gear, Waterproofs, Balls , Tackle shields and Tackle Bags, in fact anything that could be used for playing or training for Rugby.
THE ONLY TWO CRITERIA ARE THAT THEY ARE CLEAN (For Customs Clearance) AND THAT THEY ARE IN SUCH CONDITION THAT YOU OR YOUR CHILDREN WOULD BE HAPPY TO WEAR THEM OR USE THEM
On the 8th December we will be collecting kit in OUR BRIGHT RED KIT BARRELL outside of the Dragons community suite at Rodney Parade. The Barrel will be based at all remaining home games for the season.
Please bring along any unwanted or outgrown kit from yourselves, your club or your school.
