If you came here looking for information on the upcoming rugby charity game to help New Zealand quake victins and Australia flood victims then this is the post that you want. Alternatively we will be updating this thread on our forum with any other info as it becomes available.
Have you heard the spin? The WRU are going to be helping the victims of the tsunami in Samoa by giving the Samoan Rugby Union some money and allowing bucket collectors outside the game. That’s great… but let’s check something. As far as I am aware the Welsh Rugby Union give the Samoan Union money for that game anyway, as part of the IRB drive for giving money to developing nations. Could be wrong but that’s how I remember.
So where does that leave us? With some plastic buckets. Or in other words, spin and asking the public to do the work for them whilst they look good.
Be Specific
So I ask the WRU, be specific. Tell us how much money you are giving to them, and how much above what you would be giving it is. don’t hide behind media speak and spin, tell us out right – especially as they are pushing the game as a way for Welsh rugby fans to attend the game to help out those in need.
Follow London Welsh’s lead and tell us how much you are giving from the game. London Welsh are giving 25% of their next games ticket money, as well as having a charity rugby game and a raffle. What are the WRU doing?
Do more
Are plastic buckets enough? It is all well and good talking about how we can help as the public, and some wishy washy talk about them helping, but we can do more. If rugby wants to help clean up its image following things like bloodgate or John Hayes stamping then it needs to show how rugby is a family, how we look after our own.
Heavens Game is calling for the big nations and the British Lions to tour Samoa, bringing vital tourist dollars to the stricken nation, and that is a view I agree with. The tickets and the money the tourists bring in can really help the area, an area we will be in when touring New Zealand anyway.
If not what about an exhibition game, or games, between some big nations? New Zealand and Australia have met in other places previously, such as Hong Kong. What about having a Wales vs Australia exhibition game, either at one of the countries or abroad somewhere (must be somewhere where they can sell a number of tickets at a decent price). That would show how much rugby cares.
Even the WRU could help by simply promising the ticket money from the game to the relief funds. Such a gesture would certainly get me going along (currently I am only going to the New Zealand and Australia games) and I bet it would bring a lot more fans along to the game.
London Welsh are trying to help, the WRU are just giving us spin. Be specific, let us know what you are doing without the media speak. Show that rugby cares, that in the world of professionalism there is still room for rugby being able to look after its own.
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