FORMER Leigh Miners Rangers kit has found its way to Kenya in a donation to orphans needing support to make their rugby dreams come true.

The kit was initially donated to the Army by the Miners as a thank-you for hosting a pre-season training camp at Weeton Barracks back in January 2015.

The donation consisted of 15 jerseys, 15 pairs of shorts and 15 pairs of socks, plus four rugby balls, which were handed over in November last year by Colonel Tom Vallings, commander of the British Army Training Unit in Kenya.

The coaches at the club were amazed to find out that the kit has gone to an orphanage in Kenya on the east coast of Africa, after receiving an e-mail from Kenya Rugby's Gem Dennis thanking them for their donation.

It said: “I just want to thank you and I want you to feel proud of what your kit is doing in Kenya and how it is helping community teams.”

The Miners kit, worn during the 2012 and 2013 seasons, is being used by children at the Nanyuki Children’s Home orphanage, who have recently been crowned under 13s champions, beating eight other teams.

The kit is also used by high school girls' teams during tournaments.

Alan Coleman, head coach at Leigh Miners Rangers, said: “It’s fantastic to see that the kits have gone to good use.

“Rugby is a big sport in our town and we want to spread the love of rugby to other places too.

“We just want to help people as much as we can in Leigh and in other countries.

"It’s important to give back.”

For more information, or if you would like to donate kit to Kenya, e-mail Sarah Cooper at kenya@aff.org.uk with the subject 'Rugby equipment – Col Tom Vallings'.