Bunnings Rugby Assist backs ten local rugby clubs with $30,000 donation

Bunnings is celebrating ten local rugby clubs selected as the latest recipients of Bunnings Rugby Assist. Each club will receive $30,000 worth of Bunnings products, materials and labour support to improve their facilities and enhance their impact within their rugby community.

Bunnings Rugby Assist recognises the service that rugby clubs provide to their local community and with the help of their local Bunnings team, this year’s ten winning clubs will use the support to upgrade or renovate their facilities. 

Bunnings Rugby Assist 2024 recipients include clubs from Canterbury, Counties Manakau, East Coast Bays, Mid Canterbury, North Harbour, North Otago, Northland, Ngāti Porou East Coast, Southland, Whanganui, and Waikato.

One of this year's winning clubs, Oxford Rugby Football Club (Oxford RFC), is determined to make rugby accessible to everyone in the community, after noticing the impact rising costs of living was having on participation. They have introduced an initiative for the 2024 season that removes financial barriers by offering free sign-ups for players aged 5-18, along with complimentary mouthguards, club socks, a t-shirt, and a team photo. Additionally, the club provides senior players with a cooked meal after each training session and a roast following every home game, fostering a supportive and inclusive environment for all.

Club secretary, committee member and player of the club, Shara Kelsey-Ross, said, "Oxford is a small rural town with a population of less than 3,000 and our club is a central part of this tight-knit community. Our weekly dinners after training can often be the only nutritious meal of the week for some of our members who work long hours. The social aspect of eating together is also important in an isolated, rural community.

"Our plan is to upgrade our facilities so that we can better host club events and, in the event of local emergencies, provide a refuge service to the community,” concluded Ross.

New Zealand Rugby (NZR) General Manager of Community Rugby, Steve Lancaster, knows the positive impact that local rugby clubs have on their community and is looking forward to seeing the impact of Bunnings Rugby Assist 2024.

"Bunnings Rugby Assist is a chance to celebrate these clubs and ensure they can continue the important work that they are doing. Bunnings has always shown tremendous support for grassroots rugby and we're fortunate to have them as a partner, helping rugby clubs to better serve their rugby communities,” said Lancaster.

General Manager of Bunnings New Zealand, Melissa Haines, says "Bunnings is honoured to work shoulder-to-shoulder with clubs from across the country who are making a positive difference to their local rugby community.

"This year we received 191 club nominations and as a proud partner of provincial rugby in New Zealand, Bunnings Rugby Assist is a small way in which we can lend a hand to the communities in which we operate."

Bunnings Rugby Assist ambassador and rugby legend, Ian Jones, said: "Rugby has played a significant role in my life and it’s incredibly fulfilling to support this initiative that highlights the vital role of grassroots clubs in Aotearoa. Congratulations to the 10 selected clubs and thank you for your invaluable contribution to the community."

Bunnings has now supported 50 local rugby clubs through Bunnings Rugby Assist, over the past four years. In 2024, Bunnings Rugby Assist reaches a significant milestone, with over $1 million in contribution distributed to grassroots clubs across Aotearoa.

The 10 Bunnings Rugby Assist 2024 clubs that will each receive $30,000 worth of Bunnings products, materials and labour support are: 

For more information please visit: Bunnings Rugby Assist - Bunnings New Zealand