St George Illawarra Dragons captain Ben Creagh is expecting no charity to be shown on the field during the 2015 Charity Shield fixture against the South Sydney Rabbitohs to be held at ANZ Stadium, Olympic Park on Saturday, February 7.
The 32nd annual Charity Shield will serve as the final hit-out for the Dragons on familiar soil before they depart to compete in the inaugural World Club Series.
Creagh himself is aware of the importance that the annual marquee pre-season fixture provides in a player's preparation as well as the spectacle it offers Red V Members and supporters.
“The Charity Shield is an important part of our pre-season training there's no doubt about it," said Creagh.
"All the players look forward to being a part of it with the intensity on the field rivalling any regular competition game.
"It is a match steeped in history, tradition and excitement and it will be our final game on home soil before we head to compete in the World Club Series."
The Charity Shield commenced in 1982 and so too did the tradition of supporting local charities and causes. In 2015, proceeds from the Charity Shield will support three charities within the Dragons Community program – the St George and Wollongong Public Hospitals in addition to the St.George Foundation.
Dragons Community was first established in 2008 and aims to have a positive impact on people’s lives within our community, which stretches from Kogarah in the north to Batemans Bay in the south.
Dragons Community currently runs 30 different programs across its eight pillars:
* Charity * Cultural * Education * Environment
* Grassroots Rugby League * Health * Mentoring * Women & Girls
St.George Foundation was founded in 1990 by St.George Bank, the major partner of the St George Illawarra Dragons, to help build a secure future for disadvantaged children.
Since its inception, the Foundation has invested over $23 million in funding programs that enrich the lives of Australian children who are physically, socially or economically disadvantaged.
For the 2015 Charity Shield, St.George Foundation have taken the opportunity to nominate local charity Kookaburra Kids to form the guard of honour, representing the thousands of little guys across Australia who are helped by St.George Foundation each year.
St.Geirge Foundation has noted that all funds raised on the night at the Charity Shield will be donated back out to charities just like Kookaburra Kids through the St.George Foundation’s four funding rounds per year.
Results
The St George Illawarra Dragons were defeated 38-20 by the South Sydney Rabbitohs in last season’s Charity Shield fixture held at WIN Stadium, Wollongong.
In 31 Charity Shield fixtures contested since 1982, the Dragons have recorded 16 wins, 11 losses and drawn on four occasions.
Ticketing Information
Tickets to the 2015 Charity Shield are on sale to the general public now through Ticketek. For further information or to purchase tickets please click here
