Charity Work

Currently, all IRFU (Ulster Branch) fundraising efforts are focused on the Ulster Rugby Foundation and the IRFU Charitable Trust.

The Ulster Rugby Foundation

Launched in 2023, the Ulster Rugby Foundation aims to help more people, of all ages and abilities, to get involved in our sport across the province. We believe that rugby has the power to have a lasting and positive impact on participants and our local community.

The vision for the Foundation is to inspire lifelong participation in rugby, in order to provide significant health, well-being and local community benefits - and its mission is to raise and distribute funds in support of amateur rugby development and lifelong participation in rugby.

All funds raised will go directly towards promoting participation and providing playing opportunities in the amateur game.  These opportunities use rugby as a vehicle through which we help people unlock their potential and have positive impact on individuals’ lives.

If you would like to learn about ways to support the work of the Ulster Rugby Foundation, read more.

IRFU Charitable Trust

In 1978, the IRFU recognised the need to help seriously injured players and so established the Charitable Trust to assist these players in their daily lives and help them to restore their confidence.

Today, the IRFU Charitable Trust supports 36 seriously injured players and their families across all four provinces. Sixteen are from Ulster; including Jamie Graham, Paddy Greeves, Niall McCool, Craig McMillan, David Ross and Mike Scott – all of whom remain rugby fans to this day.

The Trust helps with vehicle adaptations, physiotherapy, wheelchairs, home alterations and other supports.The IRFU Charitable Trust is led by Trustees including Ulster representatives John Callaghan and Ian McIlrath, with many volunteers from the rugby community supporting the Trust, including Philip Gregg, Keith Crossan, Jan Cunningham and Trevor Ringland.

The importance of the rugby community in ensuring the continuity of care for all seriously injured players cannot be overstated. Thank you to Ulster Rugby for their support and commitment to the Trust, as well as the many Individuals, Clubs and Schools, as well as Businesses from Ulster who support and are FRIENDS to the Trust.

If you would like to support those who have given so much to the game we all love, you can also become a FRIEND to the Trust.

Additional Projects

Ulster Rugby’s Charity Committee aims to support two additional charity projects each month through ticket donations for professional games at Affidea Stadium. Unfortunately, we are unable to accept requests for signed merchandise.

The decision on these projects is made by an internal committee at the end of each month. We feel that this is a positive way for Ulster Rugby to help a further 20 plus charities outside of our Official Charity Partners each season. For a fundraising event to be considered, it must comply with the following guidelines:

• All requests for ticket donations must be submitted using the online form below. No requests for signed merchandise can be accepted.
• The online form must be completed in full or the request will not be considered. Please note: only successful applicants will be contacted.
• The request for a ticket donation must be received six weeks prior to the day it is needed.
• Support for auctions will be considered but raffles or ballots will not be considered.
• An organisation is eligible to receive only one ticket donation per calendar year.
• Ulster Rugby supports the work of charities which provide services within Ulster and employ local expertise in delivering those services.