Tribute planned for Dons opener

Doncaster will be dedicating their 2011 season-opening Championship 1 fixture against South Wales Scorpions on Sunday 13th March to the New Zealand mining disaster.

Last month, a small explosion trapped 24 New Zealanders, two Australians, two Britons and a South African for six days until a larger explosion was believed to have claimed their lives.

With Doncaster being a mining town and Wales a mining country, the CEO / owner of the Dons, Carl Hall, believes this to be the perfect game to honour the miners.

Doncaster had also suffered from a similar tragedy in November 1931 in which 45 miners were killed at Bentley colliery.

Hall, who is from New Zealand, is calling on all New Zealanders in the UK, including rugby players from both codes of the game, to attend the match.

“This is the least we can do for them even though we are on the other side of the world,” he said. “The families who lost loved ones are in our thoughts.”

All proceeds raised will go to the Pike River trust fund with the Dons donating £2 from every paying adult ticket to the fund.

South Wales Scorpions beat Doncaster 18-8 in the equivalent fixture last year which was their first ever away match.