We care.

We care for the 35 amateur rugby players who have been seriously injured playing the game we love.  Established in 1978, the Trust helps seriously injured rugby players and their families with everyday needs such as medical care, wheelchairs, physical therapy and education, transport including vehicle alternations, home alterations, and just being there for them when they need someone.  As well as the Trust’s Christmas Hamper, which our injured players and their families look forward to every year.

We care about making a real difference to the lives of our seriously injured players.  Investing in award winning research in to spinal injury treatments with RCSI as well as involving our seriously injured players directly in the research;  in addition to researching prostheses and medications promoting nerve cell regeneration in the hope of helping those with spinal injuries in ways previously thought impossible.

We care about our primary partners Aon, Bank of Ireland and Vodafone; and out category partners DMG Media, Fallon & Byrne, Get Broadcasting, Guinness and Pinergy.  We are all supporters of Irish rugby and we are collectively passionate about helping those who have given so much to the game.

We care for our FRIENDS – those individuals, clubs, schools and businesses who actively support the Trust year on year with their kindness and generosity.

We care about our ambassadors, both existing and retired players from the world of rugby, who give up their time freely to help with our  initiatives and fundraising activities; growing greater awareness for the Trust and helping raise funds for our seriously injured players.

We care for our volunteers, who all share a passion for the game and are part of our rugby family.  Without the ongoing commitment and compassion of our volunteers we could not help support our seriously injured players and their families.

We care about our four provinces both as supporters and the fact that our injured players are spread across the island of Ireland – and although passionately competitive we are all part of the unique Irish rugby family.

We care about the IRFU as leaders of our game and the fact that they are the biggest supporters of the Charitable Trust – we care about the game of rugby, we are all fans and want to see the game of rugby become safer for all, and for the game to grow and grow.

Finally, as a rugby family, we care for each other – our game may be one of the toughest sports on the planet but once the final whistle goes: we all exhale, we all embrace, we all experience – our seriously injured players and the players on the pitch, all theirs and our families, the coaches and every rugby fan.  The true spirit of rugby.

Trustees & Committee.

The IRFU monitors the Trust through four Trustees: John Callaghan, Ronnie Dawson, Pat Fitzgerald, John Hussey and Ian McIlrath.

The day to day affairs of the Trust are administered by a sub-committee currently comprising: Michael Whelan (Chairperson), Mr. Cliff Beirne, Billy Dawson, Ollie Campbell, Fiona Coghlan, Yvonne Comer, Jan Cunningham, Robert Deacon, Kieran FitzGerald, Stan Huey, Pat O’Connor, Dr. Noel O’Mahony, Prof. John Quinlan, Liam Rattigan, Niall Rynne, Bertie Smith, Dr. Eimear Smith, John Trainor and John Wilson.

The IRFU Charitable Trust is registered as a charity in the Republic of Ireland under Charity Reference CHY6120. In Northern Ireland the charity has a Registered Charity number XR87763 and is registered as the IRFU Charitable Trust (Northern Ireland) to take advantage of Gift Aid tax concessions.

Registered Charity Number (RCN): 20010331.