RUGBY league players and executives from the top to the bottom of the game have contacted thousands of fans to make sure they are OK during the Covid-19 lockdown.
Now amateur clubs and fans are doing their bit to raise money for the NHS, with a superb mug based on hero fundraiser Captain Tom Moore among the latest initiatives.
St Helens stars have taken it upon themselves to contact about 600 season ticket holders aged 70 or above to check their health and wellbeing is good, with more to come.
But Leeds Rhinos have gone even better by getting in touch with an estimated 2,000 people.
Now amateur club Garswood Stags has released an NHS shirt and Warrington supporter Matt Grainger has produced the mug featuring a stylised image of 99-year-old Captain Tom, who raised £17 million for the NHS by walking 100 lengths of his garden.
And fittingly that is transposed over the word ‘hero.’
“I decided to do it for two reasons,” said Matt, who runs the Warrington-based company Vinyl Soul and has already had dozens of orders for the £10 mug, with every penny going to the health frontline.
“One because I think Tom and what he is doing is very inspirational and I’m very passionate about supporting veterans and it’s a great at for us all to give back to the NHS at this moment in time.”
Saints players, thought to have been led by England prop Alex Walmsley, are dividing a list of about 900 season ticket holders who fall in the high risk bracket because of their age between them.
Now on the other side of the Pennines, SunSport has learned of the efforts Leeds have gone to make sure their supporters are coping well.
Players and staff, including director of rugby Kevin Sinfield, chief executive Gary Hetherington and stars Richie Myler, James Donaldson and Brad Dwyer, are all involved in a team of about 10.
“We’ve contacted and are regularly checking in on our older and more vulnerable members who we can identify from our database and we are now working on contacting our other adult members too,” said a spokesman.
“We colour code the calls so ensure the members who we were concerned about when we began this a few weeks ago are in the process of receiving another call to check in.
“Sometimes just a chat about rugby is all people need or a friendly voice to have natter.
“We have volunteer staff delivering essentials to people who are in need along with sending Leeds Rhinos ‘thinking of you cards’ to fans who are either poorly or who have family who are poorly to let them know we are thinking and supporting them from afar.”
Garswood Stags, who play in North West Men’s League Division Four, have also produced a shirt featuring a pair of clapping hands as well as the NHS logo.
Launched on Thursday with every penny going to the health service, the £25 training top is proving popular and can be delivered in the surrounding area.
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