BUDDING rugby players more than 4,000 miles away are benefitting from the generosity of county rugby clubs.

East Lothian rugby clubs are supporting the sport in Rwanda through Keith Wallace, past-president of Haddington RFC and vice-president of the Scottish Rugby Union.

North Berwick RFC raised £660 for the good cause when Mr Wallace spoke recently at their annual dinner.

Meanwhile, Gifford Mini Goblins have donated a large box of strips.

Mr Wallace, who has been helping support rugby in the African country for more than 10 years, told the Courier: “Rugby is a great sport for helping its own, the money raised will go a long way with all of it going directly to the cause and the strips will go down a treat, even more so given that the colours almost exactly those of the Rwandan Flag.”

Adam White, founder of the Gifford Goblins and current treasurer, was delighted to help out.

He said: "I remember the challenges we had sourcing kit when we first set up in 1981 so it is great that we can now help others.”

The funding will help pay the salary of the Rwandan Rugby Federation’s chief administrator, a key role in the development of the game, and the strips will go to schools visited by development officers funded via the charity Friends of Rwandan Rugby.

For more information, go to friendsofrwandanrugby.com