SOS man wins IRB award

By Jason Harris
January 28 2003

SOS Romania Rugby founder and co-ordinatnor John Broadfoot has been handed the IRB's Development Award in recognition for his work with the charity.

SOS was chosen for the award by an international panel of former players featuring former All-Blacks captain Sean Fitzpatrick and ex-Sarries and France legend Philippe Sella.

John Broadfoot told thesaracens.com "It's a great feather in the cap for SOS - I'm absolutely thrilled not for me but forall the people working on the SOS Kit Aid Project."

This is the second piece of good news for SOS after it was announced last week that it is the IRB's intention to expand the appeal into Moldova, Georgia and Bulgaria.

Broadfoot was full of praise for everyone involved with the appeal through Sarries

"The Saracens Club and its supporters played a big part in the success of SOS, especially at the beginning, and can take much credit for taking SOS to where it is today."

"The Club with its innovative free ticket offer for under 16s in return for a kit donation did much to raise the profile of SOS and gave it much needed credibility early on within the IRB."

The appeal's organiser saved his final words for the fans who had donated kit, time and money to this most worthy of causes.

"The supporters too were fantastic in the way they responded and this not only produced much good kit, but gave me a real encouraging inkling as to the depth of support within the rugby community for other parts of the worldwide rugby community not so well off."

We here at thesaracens.com are proud to be associated with the appeal and will give it our full support as it expands during 2003 and beyond.

If you would like to get involved or just want to know more about the appeal's work, please visit the SOS website at

www.sosromaniarugby.org