Johannesburg - Opposing rugby nations have put their sporting rivalries aside to assist disabled South African players during the Covid-19 pandemic.
The Springboks and British & Irish Lions have teamed up to create The Players' Fund, an ongoing fundraising drive which will officially end this weekend.
Through an online auction of rugby memorabilia including a 2021 Springbok jersey signed by the entire team; balls signed by the Springbok backs and forwards respectively; and a 2009 British & Irish Lions jersey signed by captain Paul O’Connell and his entire team, they aim to raise at least £15 000 (R300 243).
The auction kicked off on July 24 and will run for the duration of the Springboks-Lions Test series which ends this weekend.
The Player’s Fund’s general manager Gail Baerecke and its chairman Jean de Villiers, said that they were determined to get involved as the global health crisis had wreaked havoc on the sport.
“Rugby has been restricted almost at all levels of the game like most sports, both locally and internationally, and this has impacted livelihoods, career choices, missed sporting opportunities, having a sense of purpose, and fitness levels just to mention a few.
“There is also the uncertainty of what the future holds has also created increased levels of anxiety amongst rugby players,” they said in a statement.
But injured players were particularly vulnerable and require all the assistance they can get, they explained.
“Living with a disability during the pandemic sets them apart as a ‘vulnerable group’, making public transport, hospital, and clinic visits riskier for them. For this reason, a Lockdown Contingency Fund, which provided needier recipients with electronic retail vouchers and private transport to and from medical appointments, was also created.
“We kept in close contact with as many as we could both telephonically and electronically, and it was important for us to know each one's needs and challenges and step in and help where we could, ” they said.
But then Baerecke and de Villiers were approached by UK-based Matt Hampson Foundation with the idea of the online auction.
“Their message was clear, we are in these difficult times together, so let’s help each other so that we can both keep doing what we do best.”
The pair explained that it was also favourable to auction valuable and sought-after South African rugby memorabilia items on an international market when the bidders were doing so in a strong currency.
“We collected rugby memorabilia from our Springbok team who have been so helpful and another item was also donated to us by a former Springbok,” they said.
The Matt Hampson Foundation has also sourced items from its wide base of supporters, corporates, current, and former Lions players.
In order to put The Players’ Fund together, a team approach was needed from the like-minded charities from two highly competitive rugby nations, South Africa and the United Kingdom.
“When we put our heads together, amazing things happen,” the pair said.
They added that the two charities had collaborated for many years, with Matt Hampson even visiting South Africa in 2019.
The response to the ongoing online auction has already received a positive response and Baerecke and de Villiers hope that they reach their targets as the campaign reaches its end this weekend.
Ultimately, the idea is to make The Players' Fund sustainable even during unprecedented times.
“Our 102 recipients who live each day with difficult disability issues need us and we are committed to helping them no matter what,” they said.
“We have done so for the past 41 years and we must find ways to do so for the next 41.”