| Wooden Spoon first linked up with the Anti-Assassins RUFC in 2004 to further promote their charitable work. The partnership has proved to be a great success providing a playing platform for occasional players, whilst communicating the work of the Wooden Spoon Charity through the rugby playing community. Last year the concept was expanded to include a Women’s team and a Veteran’s team.
The 2007 season has seen the Spoon teams include many high profile representative players who have acted as ambassadors both on and off the pitch. Victories for the Veterans and Women in Kinsale and Amsterdam and an additional trophy for the Women in Stockholm has placed WoodenSpoonRugby firmly on the map.
Going forward, the England Legends (former England international players), the Lionesses (former international women players from England Ireland, Scotland or Wales) and the Varsity Blues (former Oxford and Cambridge University players) have also formed partnerships with Wooden Spoon and will continue to play their regular fixtures whilst supporting the Charity. Each fixture helps with fundraising, increases the profile of Wooden Spoon and ensures Spoon can continue to have a positive impact on helping disadvantaged children and young people throughout the UK and Ireland.
The awareness that has been generated across UK rugby through contact with clubs and by playing at these high profile tournaments has been massive and the WoodenSpoonRugby teams have set a high benchmark on the tournament circuit during the last six months and are now considered the team to beat. WoodenSpoonRugby is enthusiastic to take their successful reputation forward into the new season.
The six teams are totally self financing through player contributions and sponsorship. Spoon is delighted that the sponsorship and support given by the new principle sponsor, NETGEAR and additional sponsors will allow the WoodenSpoonRugby teams to play in some of the world’s most popular tournaments and engage with passionate rugby supporters both in the UK and overseas.
Because of this support, WoodenSpoonRugby teams over the last two years have generated in excess of £22,000 directly from fundraising at tournaments, donations and as one of the benefiting charities of the Dubai Long Lunch.
WoodenSpoonRugby Director, John Dewhurst said: “Grateful thanks to all the sponsors who have embraced this concept of marketing Spoon to a rugby audience. Thanks also to the teams and players who have joined WoodenSpoonRugby. The calibre of our players and fixtures will help attract the essential support required by Wooden Spoon to assist in its great work with disadvantaged children."
WoodenSpoonRugby Sponsors 2007/2008
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