9:51 PM |
WIKI TO MAKE COMEBACK IN BENEFIT MATCH FOR SAMOAN TSUNAMI DISASTER RELIEF FUND
Auckland, New Zealand, October 03, 2009 – Kiwi rugby league legend Ruben Wiki will spearhead a New Zealand Rugby League benefit match to raise funds for the Samoan tsunami disaster relief effort.
NZRL chief executive Jim Doyle today announced the former Kiwi captain is coming out of retirement to be a guest player for the Samoan Residents (Toa Samoa Domestic) against the Bartercard Premiership Selection at Mount Smart Stadium next Saturday.
Wiki (36) retired after turning out for the All Golds against New Zealand Maori in New Plymouth last October, ending a career which featured a world record 55 tests for the Kiwis and more than 300 NRL appearances.
"Ruben wanted to be involved in some way to help support our efforts to raise funds for the people of Samoa who suffered so terribly from the tsunami disaster this week," said Doyle.
"He played for New Zealand with so much pride and commitment but he has always been passionate about his Samoan heritage. We couldn't think of a better man to be involved in spearheading our relief effort."
Doyle said Rugby League Samoa (RLS) was keen for the game to go ahead despite the tsunami disaster.
"This Samoan side is made up entirely of players resident in Samoa and, given what has happened this week, we told them we would understand if they decided not to go ahead with the match we had arranged some time ago," he said.
"But the Samoans came back and told us it was important for them to play the match. They see this as helping them to connect with the Samoan community in New Zealand at this dreadful time."
The NZRL is hosting the Toa Samoa Domestic team in Auckland from tomorrow, three days earlier than originally planned. This will provide more time for the visitors to mix with Auckland's Samoan community.
Apart from the match between the Toa Samoa Domestic side and the Bartercard Premiership Selection there will now be a women's sevens game on the programme between Fetu Samoa and an Auckland Invitational side led by Luisa Avaiiki, who captained the Kiwi Ferns to three World Cup titles.
Doyle said gate proceeds from the October 10 event along with other funds from a bucket collection would go to the Samoan tsunami relief fund.
Four days later the NZRL will be involved in another fund-raising appeal when it uses the one-off Test between the Kiwis and Tonga in Rotorua on October 14 to raise funds for victims of Tonga's ferry disaster.
"This has been a sad time for our Pacific neighbours Samoa and Tonga. Both countries have a very strong association with our game and all we can do is try to help in whatever way we can," said Doyle.
For further information contact:
Richard Becht
Media Manager
New Zealand Rugby League
Mobile: + 64 21 814 537
Email: becht@xtra.co.nz
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