Following the end of the 2023/24 United Rugby Championship regular season, four Shield for Good winners have been confirmed. Each Shield for Good has the additional league offering, of supporting the triumphant side’s chosen charity and foundation with a donation.
United Rugby Championship CEO, Martin Anayi said: “Local rivalries have always brought about a fight for bragging rights and it’s very fulfilling for us to attach tangible rewards for organisations and causes that seek to better the communities of our clubs. Everyone across our league uses their responsibilities as role models to make a positive impact – now through ‘Shields for Good’ their actions on the pitch will have even more resonance off it. I’d like to congratulate each winner and wish them every success in the Play-Offs.”
Italian x Scottish Shield Winners – Glasgow Warriors
The Italian X Scottish shield has been won by Glasgow Warriors, who finished the regular season with a victory over Zebre Parma, with a place in the Play-Offs already secured.
Their chosen charity is Glasgow Children’s Hospital Charity, who have been the official charity partner of Glasgow Warriors since 2018, with the club having raised over £75,000 since the partnership’s inception.
Players and staff frequently work together on charitable activations across the city, including an annual visit to the hospital each Christmas. The club also hosts its annual Plaster It Purple fixture, where supporters are encouraged to wear purple to Scotstoun for a dedicated match night, with the team wearing purple socks and dedicated warm-up t-shirts.
This year, the club’s Fighting for Our Families campaign has seen Glasgow Warriors raise almost £50,000 for the charity across a range of activities, including; Glasgow Warriors staff running the Great Scottish Run 10k, clubs including Ardrossan Accies, Cambuslang Juniors, University of Strathclyde Women’s RFC, GHA and GHK hosting their own Plaster It Purple events, and club sponsors including Hilton Glasgow, Macron and McCrea Financial Services donating across the course of the season.
Irish Shield Winners – Leinster Rugby
The Irish Shield has been won by Leinster Rugby who finished the regular season with a bonus-point victory over provincial rivals Connacht. Their chose charity is the Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust, a registered charity that was established in 2013 with the aim of alleviating the financial hardship of bereaved families repatriating the body or bodies of loved one(s) back to Ireland, who have died abroad in sudden or tragic circumstances.
The charity was named after Kevin Bell, a young man who died suddenly in New York in 2013. After an outpouring of help and goodwill from family, friends and indeed strangers, his family decided to use the funds to help other families similarly affected by the sudden loss of a loved one abroad.
South African Shield Winners – Vodacom Bulls
The South African shield has been won by the Vodacom Bulls following their victory over the Hollywoodbets Sharks in Round 18. Their chosen charity is the CHOC Childhood Cancer Foundation South Africa, the only non-profit organisation offering holistic support for childhood cancer and life-threatening blood disorders in the country.
The Vodacom Bulls have embraced CHOC’s mission to support children and teenagers diagnosed with cancer or life-threatening blood disorders, as well as their families. Whether it’s through financial donations, raising awareness about childhood cancer, or bringing happiness to children and teenagers through visits from Vodacom Bulls players or Bulletjie, the Vodacom Bulls have become a crucial partner in their efforts.
Welsh Shield Winners – Ospreys
The Welsh Shield has been won by Ospreys who finished the season with victory over Cardiff Rugby on Judgement Day, securing a spot in the Play-Offs in the process. Their chosen charity is Ospreys in the Community (OitC), who are a charitable foundation working in close partnership with the club.
OitC share a strong relationship and form a key part of the Ospreys’ Strategy, while operating independently to the professional rugby organisation. Their aim is to create a vibrant and sustainable foundation that encourages and supports people of all ages and abilities to make positive life choices. They have been in operation for 9 years, run over 125 programmes, and impacted over 65,000 lives last year alone.
OitC work to improve lives by working with others to create a range of programmes that sit within our three core pillars, with inclusivity being the golden thread that connects our programmes; Health & Wellbeing, Education & Employability, and Sport & Physical Activity.
They aim to engage with over 50,000 people each year providing sustainable and enjoyable programmes throughout the Ospreys region, making a positive and lasting difference to people’s lives.