RUGBYTOTS SOUTH AFRICA PARTICIPATE AT THE 2018 LORMAR TOUR

• September 3, 2018

In September 2018 ten adventure-seeking riders will take to their mountain bikes in honour of the rugby players in South Africa who have sustained life-altering injuries on the field. This will mark a new collaboration between two well-known and loved brands of rugby: Rugbytots and the Chris Burger Petro Jackson Players’ Fund.
Rugbytots is the world’s favourite play rugby programme, with specially structured classes allowing children between the ages of two and seven the opportunity to learn the principles of rugby in a safe and playful manner. The initiative started way back in 2006 in the United Kingdom, when founder Max Webb was looking for a pre-school rugby class for his three young boys. When no options presented themselves, he started Rugbytots, bridging the gap in child development that he discovered was present. Twelve years later, there are 80 000 children engaged in weekly Rugbytots classes in 16 countries and on five continents around the world.
Since its launch, the Rugbytots brand has been welcomed into the rugby community internationally with their energy being extended into generous and heartfelt fundraising for the Wooden Spoon (rugby) charity in the UK. In South Africa, the Rugbytots Director, Steed Richardson, believed that the local wing of the company needed to find a home-grown charity. And so, in 2018, the Chris Burger Petro Jackson Players’ Fund was selected.
Since 1980, the Players’ Fund has been Rugby’s Caring Hands in South Africa. When any South African rugby player runs onto the field, he does so with a team behind him. When this player finds him or herself having to adapt to life with a “new normal” after a serious and life-altering injury, a team approach is once again needed to lift them up. The Players’ Fund joins this team and does so indefinitely.
Morné du Plessis, Chairman of the Player’ Fund, shared his sentiments on the collaboration: “Ongoing support from those involved in rugby is critical to the longevity of the Players’ Fund. The nomination by Rugbytots to dedicate their South African fundraising efforts to our cause, is both honourable and an example of the rugby principles that we all rely on. We look forward to working with the Rugbytots team as they join Rugby’s Caring Hands.”
To launch this partnership, ten friends of Rugbytots and the Players’ Fund will be saddling up for the Lormar Ultimate Karoo Endurance, a three-day/132km mountain bike stage event set around the picturesque Lormar Arab Stud Farm in the Karoo from 28 to 30 September this year.
Riders of the team will be kitted out in custom-designed cycling apparel representing both Rugbytots and the Players’ Fund, with a tightly contested fundraising challenge between the riders. To contribute to this initiative – visit https://www.givengain.com/activist/222722/projects/17732/
In show of support for the cause and the campaign the Rugbytots community across the country will also be joining in the FUNdraising efforts by completing a Try-Athlon on Saturday 22nd September.
We’re honoured by the show of support and dedication from the Rugbytots franchisees and the greater network.