RUGBY players and fans will take a few moments away from the rough stuff for a crucial cause this weekend.
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The Salvation Army's annual Red Shield Appeal takes place on Sunday but lovers of the running game will dig deep during tomorrow's Port Pirates and Wauchope Thunder home games.
The Westport Club's Jenny Edmunds had the idea of collecting for the appeal.
"The Salvation Army has been a longtime community partner of The Westport Club," the community coordinator explained.
"I thought we could extend that partnership so I put the word out there."
There was no hesitation from the Pirates and had just been "a natural thing," she said.
She is expecting generous donations tomorrow at the games.
It was also "absolutely awesome" that the Port Macquarie Saints Netball Club had raised funds themselves in recent weeks.
There will be a roadside collection point for the first time on Buller Street, outside the bowling club, from 9am until 3.30pm on Sunday.
And for those who aren't carrying cash, don't worry: there will be card facilities.
Rugby is said to be the game they play in heaven, so it makes sense that the sport asks the fans to be selflessly angelic with donations.
The Red Shield Rugby Round couldn't come at a more timely moment.
This week the Salvos released the latest Economic and Social Impact Survey.
It shows that of the 2400 people canvassed at Salvation Army centres around Australia, 25 per cent went without one substantial meal per day.
It also showed that on average people had $18 per day to live on after covering accommodation costs.
Major Brett Gallagher said those numbers line up with the experiences of the marginalised in the Hastings.
Port Pirates' juniors will collect at halftime in reserve grade and first grade, with the collection taking place at the same time during Wauchope's game.