Wooden Spoon supporters

Wooden Spoon, the children’s charity of rugby, helps fund projects throughout Ulster. It receives great support from the joint Honorary Presidents, two great Irish and Lions players, Dr Jack Kyle OBE and Willie-John McBride MBE.

Dr Kyle,who helped launch this year’s tournament, said: “We’ve had quite a few projects and Carrick have been extremely generous in their contributions that they have made to Wooden Spoon and that is one of the reasons why I like coming down.”

Among the backdrops at the launch was a list of initiatives which have received support from the Wooden Spoon, including £100,000 for a children and family support centre in progress at Tor Bank School, Dundonald

Carrick RFC President Gerry Simms added: “It’s an absolute honour to have Jack Kyle here, the guy that did so much for Irish rugby. He is the President of Wooden Spoon and that’s a charity we like to be associated with because when you see some of these kids, the disadvantages they have, any money we can raise is going to them.

“When you have people like Jack Kyle and Willie-John McBride at the head of it, it’s not very hard to work with them because they are legends to work with. We gave a £1,000 last year and we hope maybe a bit more this year.”

(Full coverage of Sevens launch in this week’s Carrick Times, on sale now!)