Referees in pink for charity

Referees in the 2008 Rugby League World Cup will officiate every game of the tournament in a pastel pink shirt … because it is for a good cause, it was announced today.

The referees’ shirts will be signed by team captains in all 18 matches played over the 29-day tournament and auctioned to raise money for the National Breast Cancer Foundation. The shirts will carry the NBCF logo on the collar.

With yesterday marking 100 days to the tournament’s first match in Townsville on October 25, World Cup organisers were delighted with the response to the new uniform, which provides the most “neutral” colour to the playing strips of the 10 competing nations.

2008 Rugby League World Cup tournament director and Rugby League International Federation Chairman, Mr Colin Love AM, said the decision on the referees’ gear was a natural fit with the NBCF, which is a major beneficiary of Rugby League’s One Community program.

To further support the charity, NBCF ambassador Sarah Murdoch will do the coin toss at Australia’s first World Cup match against New Zealand at Sydney Football Stadium on October 26 - just one day before the NBCF’s Pink Ribbon Day.

“Aside from the colour issues, we wanted to provide recognition and support to a charity during the period of the tournament and the NBCF was a logical choice, given the long-term support and relationship Rugby League already has with the organisation,” Mr Love said.

“Breast cancer touches the lives of many NRL players, fans and other members of the Rugby League family. In the referees ranks, it is a cause that has real relevance with Steve Clark’s wife Christine having previously been diagnosed with and undergone treatment for breast cancer.”

Over the past five years Rugby League has established an active and high profile partnership with the National Breast Cancer Foundation and contributed over half a million dollars towards finding a cure for breast cancer. 

As one of the four One Community Charities, NBCF also receives support from the game in the form of joint public awareness campaigns and exposure through the Sunday Channel 9 One Community Match. 

Yesterday in Brisbane, Mr Love and the Queensland Government marked the start of the 100-day countdown with news the Tournament Final at Queensland’s Suncorp Stadium is already guaranteed a sell-out crowd.

“We still have a lot of work ahead to make it the success that we believe it will be but I can tell you that the progress to date has surpassed all expectations,” Mr Love said