Rugby Australia and Rural Aid have partnered together to create Rural Aid Round in round six of the National Rugby Championship this season.
People will also be able to donate via the NRC Rural Aid Round link or on match day on October 5-6 with volunteers to collect funds at the match venues.
Rugby Australia will match, dollar for dollar the money collected at the grounds and kick start the fundraising with a five-thousand-dollar donation to support Australia’s farmers and regional communities doing it tough throughout one of the worst droughts in Australian history.
Canberra Vikings, Melbourne Rising, Queensland Country and the Western Force will all host round six matches with Queensland Country to take on the NSW Country Eagles for the battle for country rivalry on October 6.
Rugby Australia Chief Executive, Raelene Castle said: “Regional communities are the life blood of the sport and so many of our participants, fans and players come from the bush. “We wanted to show our support for the communities that have been hit hard by the drought and Rural Aid has done some incredible work assisting those communities over the past year.
“We are proud to be supporting such an important cause and we know that this initiative will be well supported by those in attendance at our NRC matches in round six.”
Outgoing Classic Wallabies General Manager, Justin Harrison said: “For so many of our current and Classic Wallabies their connection with regional Australia is paramount and we want to show people doing it rough that Rugby cares about their situation.
“The Classic Wallabies will be getting behind this cause and we encourage people to donate to Rural Aid and or get out and support their NRC teams in round six to support our farmers."
Rural Aid General Manager, Wayne Thomson said: “On behalf of Rural Aid, I would like to thank Rugby Australia and its supporters for their generosity towards our farmers during these unprecedented times.”
“Many of us living in a thriving city environment can find it difficult to comprehend the extent of the drought and its effect on farmers and rural communities. The realities of the harsh Australian conditions and natural disasters can be devastating on many levels.
“Recently, the number of calls Rural Aid has received from farmers and their families needing drinking water for themselves has spiked to over 50 calls a week.
“These generous donations will supply farmers with hay to feed stock, financial assistance, fresh drinking water for their families and more.”
Round six of the NRC kicks off on Saturday 5 October.
To donate to rural aid please click below.
