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Barbarians Trust helps rugby development in Czech Republic

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The Barbarians will leave a lasting legacy from their visit to Prague after making a donation to rugby development work in the Czech Republic.

The famous invitation club held a training session for 200 local children before their 71-0 win over the national side at the Marketa Stadium on November 8.

Honorary Secretary Gordon Brown presented a cheque for 150,000 Koruna (around £5,000) from the Barbarians Charitable Trust at half time during the match celebrating the 90th anniversary of the Czech Rugby Union.

The donation will help fund youth coaching and a programme to establish more links between schools for the country’s 30 clubs. Czech Rugby are also launching an annual Barbarians Trophy competition for junior sides from clubs in the Prague area.

Gordon Brown said: "The Barbarians are a very fortunate club in the way we are welcomed the world over and if we can put anything back into the game and help developing nations, we’re delighted to do it."

Pavel Chaloupka, the President of the Czech Rugby Union, said: "It was an honour to host the Barbarians in Prague and have such an elite group of players and management celebrate the 90th anniversary with us. Our sincere thanks to the Barbarian Charitable Trust.

"There is overwhelming feedback coming to the union from all over the country about the visit. I believe that this is a turning point for Czech rugby and that we will grow our beloved sport into one of the biggest in our country."

Since its foundation in 2004 the Barbarians Charitable Trust has made grants to provinces, countries throughout the world and to the injured player foundations of all the major unions.

Click here for more information about the Barbarians Charitable Trust.

Pavel Chaloupka and Gordon Brown

Czech Rugby's Pavel Chaloupka (left) and the Barbarians' Gordon Brown