New Zealand Rugby Joins Forces with Unicef

June 20, 2014

New Zealand Rugby (NZR) has announced that they have agreed an international partnership with Unicef.

Under the new deal, the children’s charity will be supported in raising awareness and funds by New Zealand’s men’s, women’s, sevens, Maori and under-20 national teams.

NZR also operates through its official charity Cure Kids, and will now join a large group of Unicef’s international sports partners, including Spanish La Liga side FC Barcelona, the Premier League’s Manchester United, David Beckham and Serena Williams, with sporting bodies such as the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the 2014 Glasgow
Commonwealth Games also included.

Steve Tew, NZR chief executive, said: “Making a meaningful difference to people’s lives beyond the action on the field is a commitment we take very seriously. Our teams spend a great deal of time away from home and by supporting Unicef we are ensuring we can use the power of rugby and the All Blacks to connect with people wherever our teams play.”

Unicef executive director Anthony Lake added: “In our work we see first-hand how sport can change the lives of even the most disadvantaged children – children in poor communities, children living through emergencies and conflicts, children with disabilities – helping them overcome challenges, restoring a sense of normalcy, and providing the simple joy of play.”

A limited edition signed Dan Carter framed jersey to mark the star fly-half’s 100 test caps will be auctioned by New Zealand Rugby to celebrate the partnership and all proceeds will be then donated to Unicef.