Belt up rugby expands for 2017

Jun 20 • General News, International • 921 Views • Comments Off on Belt up rugby expands for 2017

RugbyWA will hold its fourth annual Belt Up Round of senior rugby this weekend supported by the Insurance Commission of Western Australia (ICWA).

For the first time in the partnership, there will be two Belt Up rounds this season to help further spread the Belt Up message across the rugby community.

The Belt Up campaign aims to increase public awareness about the prevention of motor vehicle accidents, leading to fewer insurance claims incurring lower costs.

The Pindan Premier Grade will host a ‘Belt Up Match of the Round’ this weekend between UWA and Joondalup at McGillivray Oval in Round 12, 24 June, before a Pindan Championship ‘Belt Up Match of the Round’ between Mandurah and Southern Lions at Oakmont Reserve in Round 16, 22 July.

The Belt Up Rounds aim to encourage all players and supporters in the Western Australian rugby community to be safe on our roads by wearing a seat belt.

The Insurance Commission has provided $200,000 of funding to RugbyWA in 2017 for the provision of Belt Up branded balls and training equipment to community rugby teams throughout the state.

Over 6,000 Belt Up branded rugby balls, as well as bags and hit shields, have been distributed to all Western Australian rugby clubs, and are used across all senior grades in the state.

Commission Secretary, Kane Blackman said the Insurance Commission is committed to working with community rugby teams at a grassroots level to help spread the Belt Up road safety message.

“The grassroots rugby community represents a key target audience for the Insurance Commission’s Belt Up road safety message.

“Belt Up aims to reduce the severity of injuries incurred by educating the community about the importance of wearing a seatbelt,” said Mr. Blackman.

“The Insurance Commission is delighted to be working with RugbyWA to deliver the Belt Up message across two key rounds this year, reinforcing the road safety message with the grassroots rugby community.”

RugbyWA CEO Mark Sinderberry said the organization is excited to keep spreading the Belt Up message in partnership with the Insurance Commission.

“RugbyWA are proud to partner with the Insurance Commission for the fourth straight year to help educate our rugby community on the importance of belting up and work to prevent injuries from motor vehicle accidents. It is exciting to have two Belt Up rounds this season and take the Belt Up message to different regions and clubs.”

The ‘Belt Up’ campaign targets metropolitan and rural rugby clubs and RugbyWA encourage all players and supporters to spread the Belt Up message this weekend by using the hashtag #BeltUp to increase awareness across the rugby community.