NZ Rugby Foundation
Charitable Trust for Critical Rugby Injuries
SUPPORTING INJURED PLAYERS, THEIR FAMILIES & CAREGIVERS
RUGBY plays a major role in shaping the psyche of New Zealanders as well as providing a vehicle for community cohesion. It is seen by many as central to the respect that New Zealand as a nation enjoys throughout the sporting world.
However, the reality is that rugby is a contact sport and very infrequently serious injuries occur. Law changes and other safety initiatives over recent years have been very successful in reducing the number of serious injuries. Sadly, despite these measures, we have had two serious spinal injuries in 2007.
The needs of rugby tetraplegics are as numerous as the victims are varied, so support for families, parents and caregivers is essential. It is the Rugby Foundation's mission to financially support the 89 rugby players who have sustained serious injuries over a number of years. The aim of our work is to bridge the gap between ‘before' and ‘after' quality of life for seriously injured players. We are able to do this in a number of ways including:
• Lifestyle retraining for the injured person, their spouse and family. A whole lifestyle change is required to cope with a disabled family member
• Grants for needy injured players
• Family education
• Vocational training
• Specialised transport
• Respite care
• The prevention of further critical injuries through rugby safety and injury prevention initiatives.
The Foundation also supports other areas of ‘rugby in need' such as wheelchair rugby, Area Schools rugby, player insurance and club rugby.
The Foundation is administered by a Board of Trustees whose members include former All Blacks:
• R.W. (Tane) Norton (MNZM)
• D.J. (John) Graham (President) (C.B.E)
• Andy Leslie (NZRU President) (MNZM)
• Ritchie Guy (Life Member of NZRU)
• Mark Hammett
• Maurice Trapp
For further information about us, to make a donation or to join our NZ Rugby Supporters Club please logon to our new website at www.rugbyfoundation.com. To make a text donation simply text "rugby" to 883 and a $3.00 charge will be added to your mobile phone bill.
