The Vodafone Warriors started the rugby season by defeating Gold Coast 20-8 and raising money for the victims of Cyclone Gita last weekend.
The team raised $25,000 at games in Auckland and Rotorua.
The money will go to the New Zealand Red Cross which will distribute it to its branches in Tonga, Samoa and Fiji, the island nations most badly affected by the category four cyclone.
The Warriors have strong ties to the Pacific Islands, with several Tongan players.
The club promoted a special $15 ticket offer for its first home game of the season against Gold Coast, with $5 from every ticket sold going to the relief cause.
“We thank our members and fans for combining to raise more than $25,000 for the relief fund. It’s a great effort on their part,” Vodafone Warriors CEO Cameron George said.
“We wanted to do all we could to help them.
Ticket sales were the best in years for the first game of the season at Mt Smart.
More than $24,200 was raised from ticket sales, with the rest coming from a bucket collection during the Warriors’ game with Melbourne in Rotorua.
A cheque for the money was presented to Red Cross New Zealand representatives Rosemine Mutamuliza and Malia Tua’i at Mt Smart Stadium.
New Zealand Red Cross said money donated to the Pacific Relief Fund Money could be released immediately to help with the relief efforts.
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