Munster rugby players get behind initiative to help alleviate gender-based violence

MUNSTER Rugby has confirmed that they are supporting a “fantastic initiative” which helps alleviate gender-based violence for young women. 

The club are supporting the 2025 Our Shoes campaign, a charitable initiative which ships thousands of shoes to Southern Africa every year with donations going toward children in need. 

Our Shoes is an Irish charity which was established in 2019 after a Sligo man, Ciarán McHugh along with two others Kevin Grant and Geoff Lockwood, visited the Khayelitsha township in Cape Town, home to 2.4 million people. 

Five years after two pilot initiatives, Our Shoes has shipped 50,000 pairs of shoes to South Africa to date.

Munster Rugby senior men’s players are getting behind the initiative once again this year by donating their pre-loved rugby boots.

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Donations support programs to help alleviate gender-based violence for young girls and school children in need by gifting pre-loved trainers and sports shoes.

“This is an impactful initiative that fosters a spirit of community and charity among young people,” a spokesperson said. 

“We aim to bridge continents through individual acts of kindness. By donating pre-loved sports shoes, students will help reignite hope, restore dignity, and open doors to new opportunities for children in African townships.”

Organisers of the Our Shoes 2025 campaign in Ireland are also reaching out to Limerick schools, clubs and organisations to donate their shoes and boots. 

Interested schools can register by visiting https://www.ourshoes.ie/registerschool 

March 20 is the deadline for the collection of shoes and the last day to register and request a collection on the website. DPD will collect the shoes during March for participating groups.