Wales Wheelchair Rugby League’s ‘10,000 x £1 = CYMRU’ fundraising campaign has reached its £10,000 target today, thanks to an incredible response from supporters across Wales and beyond.
The campaign was launched after the Wales squad lost its front-of-shirt sponsor at short notice, leaving a significant funding gap for those costs that aren’t covered by the Rugby League World Cup ahead of the team’s trip to Australia.
The appeal called on supporters to give just £1, with the ambition of bringing 10,000 people together to put CYMRU on the front of the Wales playing shirt.
This evening, that ambition has become a reality.
The “CYMRU” logo will be revealed this Saturday at the farewell event for the Welsh squad which includes a final warm-up match and a shirt presentation dinner. Click here for more information and to buy tickets.
Wales Wheelchair Rugby League head coach Alan Caron said: “This is an incredible moment for everyone involved with Wales Wheelchair Rugby League. When we lost our shirt sponsor, we knew we had a significant challenge ahead of us, but we also believed that Cymru would get behind this team.
“Our players are now going to Australia knowing that they have a whole nation behind them. When we pull on that shirt and see CYMRU on the front, we will know that it represents every person who supported this campaign.
“On behalf of the whole squad and coaching team, diolch yn fawr. We can’t wait to represent you.”
Campaign organiser, Dawn Roberts-McCabe, said: “When we started this campaign, the idea was incredibly simple – 10,000 people giving £1 to put CYMRU on the front of the shirt.
“What we have seen since then has been so much bigger than a fundraising campaign. People have shared it, talked about it, donated what they could and made this team their team.
“Reaching £10,000 today is a fantastic achievement, but it is also a statement about what can happen when people come together behind Cymru. We wanted the players to know that they were not travelling to Australia alone, and I think we have achieved that.”
Wales Wheelchair will face a Wales Select side at Wrexham University this Saturday, 10 October, with kick-off at 2pm.
The full 80-minute match will be the World Cup squad’s final home fixture before travelling to Australia. The Select side has been chosen from players representing all four Welsh wheelchair clubs and includes five full Wales internationals.
Entry to the match is free, and there is no need to book – supporters can simply turn up and get behind the team.
The day will then continue with the Wales Wheelchair World Cup Send-Off Dinner and Shirt Presentation, beginning at 5.30pm at Wrexham University Students’ Union.
Hosted by former Wales coach Clive Griffiths, the evening will give supporters the opportunity to meet members of the World Cup squad, see the players presented with their official World Cup shirts and help send them off to Australia in style.
Tickets for the dinner and presentation are from £15, with a substantial street food buffet included. Tickets must be booked in advance, with bookings closing at noon on Saturday.
The Wales Wheelchair squad will then turn its full attention to the World Cup, which begins in Australia on 30 October.
Wales will open its campaign against England on Friday 30 October, before facing Ireland and the USA during the group stage, with every team guaranteed five matches across the tournament.
Tickets for Saturday and for the World Cup can be bought at wrl.wales/tickets.
