Gullivers to raise money for Wooden Spoon, the children’s charity of rugby

Gullivers Sports Travel, the UK’s leading rugby tour operator, has today announced a partnership with the children’s charity of rugby, Wooden Spoon, during the British & Irish Lions Tour to New Zealand next year.

A select ‘Spoon XV’ made up of Gullivers staff and clients will face the Poneke Pies XV at the Poneke Rugby Club in Wellington on Friday 30th June. Various fundraising activities will take place on the day, including match fee donation, an auction and bucket collections.

Gullivers’ Managing Director, Sam Seward commented:

“The Gullivers team share a lot of ‘rugby values’ with Wooden Spoon and we’re delighted to be working with them as the official charity of our New Zealand tour in 2017. We all have enormous respect for the work that Wooden Spoon does and I am pleased we’ll have an opportunity to contribute to their fundraising efforts out in Wellington next year on what will be a memorable day at Poneke RFC for all our clients, players and spectators.”

Sarah Webb, Director of Fundraising, Marketing and Communications at Wooden Spoon added:

“Our vision at Wooden Spoon is that every child and young person, no matter what their background has access to the same opportunities – through the power of rugby. We are thrilled to be working with Gullivers and are very grateful for their support, along with our rugby family around the world. The funds raised from the New Zealand tour will help transform the lives of even more children and young people with a disability or facing disadvantage in the UK and Ireland – thanks to everyone taking part and we look forward to an exciting tour.”

The Ride Of The Lions, a group of 50 cyclists featuring five ex-Lions and five ex-All Blacks, will also be joining Gullivers and Wooden Spoon (whom they are also partnered with) at Poneke RFC before embarking on their ride from the 2nd Test in Wellington to the 3rd Test in Auckland.

Roger Uttley OBE of Ride Of The Lions explained:

“This will be my fifth ROTL event. The first was the ride between the Melbourne and Sydney tests on the last Lions tour to Australia. No longer able to play the game, but able to experience and share the camaraderie generated by the effort (mental and physical!) required to cycle a long way made a big impression on me. The craic on and off the bike was so reminiscent of my playing days I can barely wait to test myself again, (on and off the bike), down in New Zealand and in some small way help others less fortunate. We’re grateful that Gullivers will be hosting us at their social match day at Poneke RFC during our tour.”