Ulster Rugby Players Auction Pink Ducks For Cancer Research

Pink rubber ducks signed by members of the Ulster Rugby team are being auctioned on eBay in aid of Cancer Research UK.

Nine pink rubber ducks, individually signed by players and head coach Mark Anscombe, are being auctioned on the online bidding site to raise money for the charity.

Players including Ruan Pienaar, Tommy Bowe and Rory Best are competing to see whose duck can raise the most amount of money.

The winning bidder for each duck will have the opportunity to attend an Ulster Rugby training session at Ravenhill and receive their item personally from the player who signed the duck.

The auction is now open and ends at 11:00 on Monday 28 October.

The participating players are Tommy Bowe, Ruan Pienaar, Rory Best, Mark Anscombe, Andrew Trimble, Nick Williams, Johann Muller, Stuart Olding and Paddy Jackson.

Ulster Rugby's partnership with Cancer Research UK will run over the course of the 2013/2014 season and will include fund raising events and match day collections.

As part of the campaign, Ulster Rugby is hosting a 'Pink Night' at Ravenhill for their game against Cardiff Blues on Friday 25 October.

Alliance East Belfast MLA Judith Cochrane, who is vice-chair of the Assembly Group on Rugby and Secretary of the Assembly Group on Cancer, has welcomed the initiative.

"Cancer Research UK is the only charity to research all 200 forms of cancer, and yet does so without Government funding for what is life-saving research," she said.

"Every hour someone in Northern Ireland is diagnosed with cancer, and the partnership with Ulster Rugby for the season ahead can only enhance their capacity to make a difference here in Northern Ireland. It is great to see rugby being used to highlight such an important issue.

"The initiative being hosted at Ravenhill next Friday will not only help to raise funds, but also awareness about the valuable work being undertaken by the charity."

The pink rubber ducks are available for auction via ebay.

(IT/JP)