PLAYERS at Ringwood and Ellingham Rugby Club are rallying to support a fundraising appeal set up as the club faces a potential loss of thousands of pounds due to the pandemic.

Due to the coronavirus crisis the club’s season had to be cut short, which it says put it in “some financial difficulty” with a forecast £17,000 deficit caused by the loss of a number of home fixtures, income from other organisations using the clubhouse and the cancellation of its touch rugby and real ale festival.

However, players past and present, from both adult and junior teams, have been coming forward to help. More than 60 of the players have shaved their heads for the cause.

Ringwood and Ellingham Rugby Club’s women’s and girl’s players have also been showing their support opting for an ice bath challenge instead.

The club’s chairman, Rob Ford, said: “The crisis has put the club in a very difficult situation that we’re addressing in a variety of ways including reducing all expenditure we can and generating income in a variety of ways, including some grants available to sports clubs to support them at this difficult time.

“But the effort from the players, led by 1st XV captain Henry Benson, has been magnificent and says a lot about the club.”

More than £7,000 has been raised, which includes giftaid, so far on its online fundraising page.

To make a donation to support the rugby club go to the fundraising page on Virgin Money Giving at https://bit.ly/3eB2Siu

On the fundraising page there is also an option to donate to the NHS Charities Covid-19 Urgent Appeal.

During the Covid-19 pandemic the club has also been showing its support for Ringwood Foodbank by kick-starting a new initiative to collect food for the charity, which is being led by the club’s director of rugby, Mark Johnson

The club will be opening on Saturday mornings between 9am and 12 noon so club members and people from the wider community can drop contributions off in the car park.

Last month, Ringwood Foodbank provided food for 353 people — a rise of 31 per cent compared to the same period last year. The foodbank has distribution centres in Ringwood, Fordingbridge and Verwood.

Club chairman Rob added: “I’m also pleased our players are reaching out beyond the club, including the donations to the coronavirus charity appeal and the weekly Saturday morning collections for the Ringwood food bank”.