The shirts were delivered by Keith Wallace, ex-President of Haddington RFC who has since become SRU President. Keith attended the last training session at the Bleachfield at the end of the 2023/24 season and collected a large box of the shirts, which were donated by Goblins’ players and parents. Rugby is a developing game in Rwanda and the shirts have gone to schools visited by development officers funded via the charity Friends of Rwandan Rugby. By happy coincidence, the shirt colours are very close to those of the Rwandan flag!
Adam White, who founded the Goblins alongside other Gifford parents in 1981, provides the story of how this came about:

‘When we first started the Mini Goblins we bought a set of blue rugby tops with money coming from a donation from the Feuars of Gifford and a sponsored 6-mile 3-legged race. Much of the sponsorship came from West Midlands Police officers who were staying in the Goblin Ha’ on a golfing trip at the time and thought the idea was brilliant! I completed the race with local architect Jack Keddie.

‘When it came to designing new shirts, we donated our old blue ones to young players in Africa through our friends at Haddington RFC. We changed our kit again in 2023 so asked people to return their old strips when they collected their new ones. Keith was then able to collect them at our end-of-season BBQ and deliver them to Rwanda.’

Thanks to all the parents and players who donated their shirts to such a good cause. No doubt this will be a tradition we look to continue into the future!