Owls and DHL fit out Tongan rugby

Ben Alexander, right, with DHL Sales Manager ACT Penny Anderson

Canberra local rugby club, the Uni-Norths Owls, and CA Brumbies sleeve sponsor, DHL, have combined to provide more than 60 kilograms of rugby gear and clothing to the Tongan Rugby Union.

The Pacific Island rugby nation has been given pre-loved jerseys, shorts, socks and boots for local players in the region.

Brumbies Academy and former Owls prop Ben Alexander helped hand over the last of the gear to DHL this afternoon. DHL will courier the gear to Tonga free-of-charge with the kit due to arrive in Tonga before Christmas.

Alexander says the program is a valuable one in promoting rugby in the Pacific.

“This is a fantastic initiative by Uni-Norths,” he said. “Tonga and the Pacific nations have provided so many outstanding players to our code and it’s vital we help develop the players in the region.

“In Canberra and Australia we’re in a very privileged position so it’s important for us to continue to give something back to the wider rugby community.”

Uni-Norths Owls Rugby Manager Jason Smith says the project has been well received.

“This has been a great project for the club and one will hopefully continue to encourage rugby in Tonga,” he said.

“This is the second year we’ve collected and distributed playing gear across to the Pacific and we’ve had great feedback from the Tongan players and who are extremely grateful to receive the gear.

“We’ve received an overwhelming response from the local rugby community in collecting this equipment for I’d like to thank everyone who’s contributed over the past two years and DHL for their continued support of this project.”

DHL’s Sales Manager ACT Penny Anderson says she’s proud to be assisting rugby at the grassroots level.

“We’re very pleased to be able to help Uni-Norths with this valuable appeal,” she said. “DHL has been involved with rugby at all levels for a number of years and we’re very proud to support the Owls in equipping players in Tonga, one of the world’s great rugby nations.”

DHL’s global network of international express, overland transport and air freight links more than 220 countries and territories, and employs more than 160,000 staff worldwide.

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