by Community Correspondent James Connor

What do you get if you cross two World Cup winners, an ex-British and Irish Lions Rugby Union Head Coach and a cold winter’s night? The answer is a big wedge of cash for a children’s charity.

Rugby stars Will Greenwood and Kyran Bracken, along with Ian McGeechan, hosted a charity auction at Trinity school, raising over £7,000 for Rose’s Gift, a charity raising funds to help children with Leukaemia.

Guests to the evening, held at Trinity School in Croydon, were treated to an entertainment-filled dinner and auctions were held throughout the evening.

Six British and Irish Lions rugby shirts, signed by Will Greenwood, Jason Leonard, Ian McGeechan, Kyran Bracken and Richard Hill, were auctioned at £500 each, whilst a framed British and Irish Lions rugby shirt from the 2009 tour to South Africa went for a staggering £850.

A framed England rugby shirt from the victorious World Cup of 2003 went to the lucky bidder for a whopping £3,200. In addition to the rugby memorabilia, an ice skating experience went for £1,500.

During the dinner waiters were made up of the school’s 1st and 2nd IV, coming straight from the rugby field, dressed in their appropriate rugby attire!

Towards the end of the night, Will Greenwood and Ian McGeechan were put on the ‘couch’ to answer questions given by the guests. They were treated to questions regarding McGeechan’s views on the current situation with the England rugby team and anecdotes from past Lions’ tours.

The night was made for a few lucky Trinity School boys who were afforded an audience with a hero, Will Greenwood. Premal Vadgama, a Sixth Form student, said: “it was a great insight into England and Lions rugby,” and his friend Charlie Dennis added: “it was a great evening which any rugby fan would have enjoyed.”

To find out about Rose’s Gift, an extremely worthwhile cause, please go to the website at http://www.rosesgift.org/.