Northland Rugby will leverage its extensive reach, platforms, and fanbase to help highlight the critical work undertaken by the Cancer Society and encourage the rugby community to get involved by donating or supporting initiatives throughout the season.
Charli Timms, Cancer Society Northland Regional Manager, emphasised the significance of this partnership:
“Being chosen by the Northland Rugby whānau as their official charity partner is an incredible opportunity. Their commitment to the Northland Te Tai Tokerau community is renowned and strongly aligns with the Cancer Society’s dedication to supporting everyone with cancer.
It’s well-known that as a region, Northland faces many inequities when it comes to cancer, including having the highest rates of new diagnoses in New Zealand and the second-highest rate of cancer deaths. At Cancer Society Auckland Northland, one of our core ambitions is to redress this balance. We firmly believe that partnering with Northland Rugby will be a meaningful step towards achieving this goal. Through their unparalleled community reach, we’ll be able to increase our ability to share the importance of cancer prevention and care with Te Tai Tokerau.
As a born and bred Northlander, it also fills me with great pride to know that the Taniwha and Kauri squads have signed up to join our Cancer Society team in the fight against cancer.”
Northland Rugby CEO Cameron Bell echoed this sentiment, stating:
“We are incredibly proud to launch this partnership with the Cancer Society Auckland Northland. While Northland Rugby has supported various charities over the years, this collaboration represents a new and deeper commitment to making a tangible difference. As a union, we understand the power of sport to drive change and unite communities, and we see this as an opportunity to use our platform for something truly meaningful. Cancer has touched many lives in our region, and we want to do our part to help those affected and support the incredible work being done by the Cancer Society.
Whether it’s through fundraising initiatives at our games, dedicated awareness campaigns, or direct support from our teams and players, we are committed to making a real impact. We encourage our rugby community and fans to stand with us in this cause and support however they can.”
Throughout the 2025 season, fans can expect to see dedicated matchday fundraising initiatives, awareness campaigns, and direct community engagement efforts from Northland Rugby and the Cancer Society Auckland Northland. More details on specific events and ways to contribute will be announced in the coming months.
For further information on this partnership or to find out how you can support, please follow Northland Rugby and Cancer Society Auckland Northland on social media.
