Dragons Help Launch 2016 Charity Shield

The St George Illawarra Dragons and South Sydney Rabbitohs officially launched on Wednesday the 2016 Charity Shield to be contested at ANZ Stadium, Olympic Park on Saturday, February 13.

The 33rd annual Charity Shield will serve as the first hit-out for a combined Dragons squad following both participation in the NRL Auckland Nines Tournament and a trial fixture against the Wynnum-Manly Seagulls in Brisbane the previous weekend.

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Dragons Head Coach Paul McGregor is aware of the importance the traditional trial game offers players leading into the new Premiership season and has revealed the role it will play in the make-up of his team’s overall pre-season preparation.

“The Charity Shield is steeped in both tradition and history and will play an important part in the Club’s overall pre-season preparations,” said McGregor.

“It is a match that all players enjoy competing in due to the high intensity it offers and will again serve as a good indicator of where we are at leading into the new Premiership season.

“This will be our first pre-season fixture as a unified squad following-on from our respective game against Wynnum-Manly Seagulls and the Nines and it is an opportunity for players to put their hands up for selection.”

The Charity Shield commenced in 1982 and so too did the tradition of supporting local charities and causes. In 2016, proceeds from the Charity Shield will support three charities within the Dragons Community program – the St George and Wollongong Public Hospitals in addition to the St.George Foundation.

Dragons Community was established in 2008 with the aim of having a positive impact on people’s lives within their community which stretches from Kogarah in the north to Batemans Bay in the south.

Dragons Community currently runs over seven key programs across their three major program portfolios:

* Education & Skills       * Health & Wellbeing      * Social Inclusion
 
St.George Foundation was founded in 1990 by St.George Bank, the major partner of the St George Illawarra Dragons, to help build a secure future for disadvantaged children. Since its inception, the Foundation has invested over $25 million in funding programs that enrich the lives of Australian children who are physically, socially or economically disadvantaged.

“We are thrilled to continue our involvement in the traditional Charity Shield fixture and grateful for the enduring support shown to us by the Dragons who will once more proudly take to the field with the St.George Foundation logo on their jerseys,” said Vanessa Barry from St.George Foundation.

For the 2016 Charity Shield, St.George Foundation will once again showcase the selfless work demonstrated by local charity ‘Kookaburra Kids’, who will form the guard of honour at the game to represent the thousands of children across Australia who are helped by St.George Foundation each year.

“Kookaburra Kids is an organisation supporting children living in families affected by mental illness, and have, in recent years, been a recipient of a St.George Foundation grant,” said Barry.  

“Our recent donation of $46,000 from St.George Foundation has meant that this local charity can continue to offer respite for children who are often the primary carers of family members with mental illness.

“Funding has gone towards running Kookaburra Kids recreational camps and school holiday activities that give these kids a break, in a fun positive and safe environment - there they also have the opportunity to meet other kids in similar families and develop lifelong friendships.”

Barry noted that all funds raised on the night at the Charity Shield will be donated back out to charities just like Kookaburra Kids through the St.George Foundation’s three funding rounds per year.

Results

The St George Illawarra Dragons drew 12-all with the South Sydney Rabbitohs in last season’s corresponding fixture held at ANZ Stadium, Olympic Park. In the 32 Charity Shield fixtures contested since 1982, the Dragons have recorded 16 wins, 11 losses and drawn on five occasions.

Ticketing Information

Tickets to the 2016 Charity Shield are on sale to the general public now through Ticketek. For further information or to purchase tickets please click here