Ulster Rugby has donated almost £3000 so far to affiliated Rugby Clubs and Schools through the Ulster Rugby MasterCard cashback incentive.

On every application for there is an option for the applicant to nominate an affiliated club or school which will receive £5 of the sign-up fee paid to Ulster Rugby by the Bank of Ireland. During last September and October we upped the amount to £10 to encourage clubs and school to get involved, and with the support local Bank of Ireland branches, they're now reaping the benefits.

The money raised by clubs and schools can be used for anything that helps promote rugby within the club, school or local community, for example, it may help to pay for a new scrummaging machine, new balls or bibs, or maybe to help purchase a new playing strip. Some organisations may chose to channel it towards the maintenance of the pitches or the club-house, to help with away travel, or even towards local advertising to encourage more people to join the club.

So far Ballynahinch RFC has raised £295 from the Ulster Rugby MasterCard, money that Club Media Officer and Council Member John Dickson says will help boost the mini section of the club which as nearly 300 children turning out each Saturday morning at Ballymacaran Park;
"We intend to use the money raised from the MasterCard to put towards purchasing new playing equipment for our mini section at the club, particularly tags, bibs and cones for our P1, P2 and P3 age-groups"

Ballynahinch top the roll of honour so far in terms of how much money they've raised from the MasterCard however Coleraine and Larne Rugby Clubs have each received cheques totalling £220 while Bangor have raised £215 and Ballymena £210 from contributions from Ulster Rugby.

Payments to clubs and schools from Ulster Rugby are made quarterly, as soon as we have received the reporting information from the Bank of Ireland.

If you're interested in finding out more about how you can raise a few pounds for your local club or school while also benefiting the Ulster Rugby Academy, to which all proceeds from the MasterCard are directed, please contact Ulster Rugby on 028 9049 3222 or your local Bank of Ireland Branch.

Click here to find your nearest Bank of Ireland Branch