Rugby: Just don't call them pretty in pink

Te Puke Sports captain Tim Bond and teammates, left to right, Aidan Ross, Jono Kitto and Dan Hollinshead, are wearing pink for a top cause. Photo / George Novak

Whoever said real men are afraid to wear pink have not met the Te Puke Sports rugby team.

To raise funds for breast-cancer research, the club's Premier side will wear one-off pink jerseys against Tauranga Sports tomorrow in the clash between the top teams in the Bayfair Baywide competition.

Te Puke Sports secretary Deborah Keenleyside said the decision to wear pink came from the players themselves.

"Matt Wallis, Ryan Lambert, Tim Bond, Michael Hinaki and Luke Keenleyside from the playing squad, along with committee members Bex Moffat and Sam Scott, had a meeting and decided that it was time that we as a sports club gave something back to the community," she said.

"As a few of the Te Puke Sports members have been through or are going through the breast-cancer journey, they decided this was the cause that they wanted to support. Funds raised from this day will be jointly donated to Tauranga Breast Cancer Services, and BOOBOPS, the local dragon-boat team for breast-cancer survivors.

"A special run of 25 pink rugby jerseys were commissioned, and once word got out about what we were doing, we had people lining up to sponsor the jerseys. They were all sold in a matter of two hours."

Te Puke Sports Premier captain Tim Bond said as breast cancer affected so many people within the club and surrounding community it was easy to support the cause.

"When we decided we were going to do the game in pink we looked at the schedule and thought what game would be best to get a big crowd down to," Bond said.

"Tauranga and us, at one and two on the table, was the obvious one and hopefully we can make some money for breast cancer."

Te Puke halfback Jono Kitto says it is an exciting opportunity to show there is more to the game than just the players running out on the field.

"This club cares about the community side of things and the boys' lives outside of rugby. It has taken a lot of organisation but the benefit it is going to give the foundation is just awesome," Kitto said.

"Saturday is more than just about winning a game. It is about bringing a community together and showing support for something that has a huge impact on family and community life."

Supporters are asked to turn up at Murray Salt Stadium in Te Puke wearing pink, with spot prizes for the best-dressed male, female, boy and girl. Entry to the ground is a $5 donation for adults, children free.

Rugby starts at 1pm, with the Development match between Te Puke Sports and Tauranga Sports, before the main premier game at 2.45pm.