TWO rugby clubs are coming together to help one of their own this Saturday.
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Last year, former Pirates and Quirindi player Harrison Frear was in a tragic car crash, that left him with no feeling from the chest down.
Pirates president Tom Cutcliffe said the clubs have organised special-edition socks, one which has the Quirindi colours and the Pirates' emblem on them, and visa versa, which will be sold to raise money for Mr Frear.
There will also be raffles, along with an auction of signed Waratahs and Wallabies jerseys.
"When we heard what happened to Harrison, as a club we wanted to do something - Harrison was one our juniors and he played first grade for Quirindi last year," he said.
"It just so happened that our first game was against Quirindi. We contacted the club and straight they said 'we're in'."
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It's a day that has special significance for both sides.
"As soon as we told the players, they were all on board," Mr Cutcliffe said.
"A lot of players have been asking what they can do to help. When it's young fella like Harrison, everyone wants to help."
Harrison's father Phil travelled to Sydney on Friday to pick up his son, who will be watching from the sidelines.
"It will be fairly special to have him here," Mr Cutcliffe said.
"He'll be watching a lot of his old team mates out there playing."
Quirindi coach Col McKenzie said it was a day that was about a lot more than just rugby.
"It's been an emotional roller coaster for the boys, particularly the younger fellas," he said.
"It's really tough, the young boys in particularly don't talk about it much, but you know they're affected.
"They're really looking forward to catching up with him, the boys haven't seen him yet, so that'll be big for them."
When the two clubs play each other in June, Quirindi will hold a similar fundraising day.
"All the money raised from the two days will go to Harrison, and helping him the best way it can, whether that be education or transport, whatever he needs it to be," Mr Cutcliffe said.
The day kicks off at Ken Chillingworth Oval at 10.30am, with firsts playing at 3.15pm. The auction will be held at about 6pm.
Jamieson Murphy
Newcastle Herald news director and business reporter. Interested in any and all yarns. Whisper g'day mate to me at jamieson.murphy@austcommunitymedia.com.au
Newcastle Herald news director and business reporter. Interested in any and all yarns. Whisper g'day mate to me at jamieson.murphy@austcommunitymedia.com.au
