ARU & NSWRU launch Fund-Raising drive for Prairiewood High School
November 06, 2008 - 3:16pm
Story by: ARU
Australian Rugby Union and New South Wales Rugby Union have combined to launch a fund-raising campaign aimed at helping a team of high school battlers from Sydney’s south-west realise their dream of playing on the international stage next year.
Prairiewood High School at Wetherill Park has been nominated by the Australian Schools Rugby Union to be the national representative at the World Youth Tournament in Japan from 29 April to 5 May, 2009.
The competition, preparing for its 10th anniversary, will boast teams from New Zealand, South Africa, France, Ireland, England, Scotland, Wales, Tonga, Korea and Japan.
Previous Australian schools to have played in the tournament include The King’s School, St Joseph’s College Hunters Hill, The Southport School, St Edmund’s College Canberra and St Stanislaus College Bathurst.
Australian Schools called for expressions of interest and after receiving nominations handed the honour to Prairiewood High, on the basis that the school selected had to be one of the best or most promising in the country.
Rugby only started at Prairiewood High in 2000 and three years later they reached the final of the Waratah Shield statewide knockout.
Prairiewood High has also produced a string of Combined High Schools representatives, an Australian under 19 star and a growing number of Premier Rugby club players over the past few seasons.
However, school officials admit the costs of travelling to Japan for the week will be in the vicinity of $70,000 and fear the funds needed may be out of reach.
“There are families of kids at our school who live off the smell of an oily rag,” said First XV coach Jarred Hodges.
“When they travel to games by bus they have to pay $10 to $20 each and that’s a lot of money for them. But they do it to because they want to continue playing Rugby.
“Unfortunately, we don’t have an old boys’ network like the private schools do to call on for help with fund-raising.
“There are raffles and those sorts of things being organised but we do need some help, otherwise we just won’t be able to get the kids there.”
Prairiewood High has opened a tour fund bank account, with ARU and NSWRU today donating $10,000 each to give the school a $20,000 start on the way towards its target.
“This is a very worthy cause, and that’s why we’ve stepped in to help,” said ARU Deputy Chief Executive Matt Carroll.
“We also want the Rugby Community to get behind Prairiewood High and help these boys be in a position to take up this wonderful opportunity to play overseas.”
NSWRU chief executive Jim L’Estrange added: “There is no denying this is an exceptional case.
“Some of the families at Prariewood High have experienced extreme hardship.
“This school needs the help of the Rugby family and the ARU and NSWRU are kicking off that assistance today.
“More help is needed though so we urge the game to get behind these boys.”
Prairiewood High principal John Pickering said the school was delighted the ARU and NSWRU were supporting their cause.
“We realise they have many mouths to feed across the state and across the country, so we are enormously grateful they have made this generous donation to our fund-raising drive.
“Rest assured we will be doing everything in our power to raise the money for this trip and make sure Prairiewood High is seen on the world stage.”
Anyone wishing to donate money can deposit funds to:
Prairiewood High School Rugby Tour Account
BSB Number: 012 074
Account Number: 140 186 521
