PNG Rugby League Star, Menzie Yere receives Royal Recognition

PNG and Sheffield Eagles star Menzie Yere meets the Queen. Getty

Ahead of his next match in Rugby League World Cup 2013, Papua New Guinea and Sheffield

Eagles Rugby League star Menzie Yere, has received royal recognition for his outstanding

work with the Kits2Kids Menzie Yere Foundation. Menzie, was given special permission to leave

the Papua New Guinea Rugby League World Cup

team base, where the team are preparing ahead of Monday’s match against Samoa at Craven Park

in Hull, to attend a Buckingham Palace reception hosted by The Queen to recognise his

outstanding contribution in encouraging and developing sporting opportunities in Papua New

Guinea. The Kits2kids Menzie Yere Foundation has so far

sent around 50 tons of sportswear from the UK to Papua New Guinea to enable local children to

participate in a range of sports, including Rugby League – which is the national sport of Papua

New Guinea. Sheffield Eagles Director Chris Noble MBE, along

with Simon Proctor and Keith Thompson from the club, supported Menzie in establishing the

charity and the group have collected kits and equipment that are no longer needed by teams from a wide

range of sources, including local teams in South Yorkshire and rugby festivals. They have even

had

parcels sent in from as far away as Australia to support the appeal. The kits and sporting

equipment donated is collected and then shipped to the Rotary Club of Boroko in Papua New

Guinea, who distribute it to be used by local schools and churches. So far three separate

container loads of sports kit and equipment have been sent to Papua New Guinea and are being

put to good use in local communities (as thepictures attached demonstrate).

Matthew Natusch, General Manager of the Papua New Guinea Rugby League team commented:

“The whole Papua New Guinea World Cup squad were proud that Menzie’s outstanding work has

received royal recognition. His support for the development of sporting opportunities for all in

Papua New Guinea has made a real difference to many people and he is held in the highest regard

by not just the sporting community but the general public.” For information about how to donate any

surplus sporting equipment to Kits 2 Kids

see www.kits2kids.com/We_need_your_hel

p_.html