OPRO announce partnership with children’s charity of rugby, Wooden Spoon, in world record fundraising attempts

OPRO, the world’s largest manufacturer of the most technically advanced mouthguard, today announced a new partnership with Wooden Spoon, the children’s charity of rugby that aims to transform the lives of children and young people with a disability or facing disadvantage through the power of rugby.

The three-year deal that is set to run through June 2021 will see OPRO show their support for a dual world record attempt to stage the highest altitude full contact men’s game of rugby sevens and highest altitude mixed gender game of touch rugby in April 2019, by providing bespoke mouthguards to all the players.

As part of the deal, OPRO will launch specially licenced Wooden Spoon branded mouthguards, with £10 from every mouthguard sold directly contributing to a £200,000 fundraising target in an effort to change the lives of some 36,000 children and young people through various projects.

All products will be available online.

As part of the 24-day LMAX Exchange Everest Rugby Challenge, rugby stars and team captains Andy Gomarsall, Ollie Phillips, Shane Williams and Tamara Taylor, alongside other inspirational figures, will aim to reach heights of over 6,500 metres, far beyond the normal Everest Base Camp location.

With over 20 years’ experience, OPRO is dedicated to bringing leading technology and safety to athletes at all levels of sport and is the official mouthguard partner of over 60 teams, including USA Rugby, England Rugby, England Rugby League, Australia Rugby and New Zealand Rugby.

Wooden Spoon’s record attempt comes just three years after they raised over £200,000 sending challengers to the North Pole in a successful world record attempt to play the northernmost game of rugby.

Speaking on the partnership and challenge, OPRO Chief Executive Officer, David Allen commented: “The work that Wooden Spoon do to change the lives of so many children and young people through the power of rugby is incredible – we’re excited to be a part of that as they take on this incredible feat.”

Sarah Webb, CEO of Wooden Spoon, added: “We are delighted to be working with OPRO on this exciting partnership. It will be great to see players wearing Wooden Spoon branded mouthguards and the funds generated will have a big impact in supporting our mission to positively transform the lives of children and young people with a disability or facing disadvantage across the UK and Ireland through the power of rugby.”

For more information on OPRO visit www.opromouthguards.com

For more information on Wooden Spoon and the LMAX Exchange Everest Rugby Challenge visit www.woodenspoon.org.uk

About OPRO

Founded 20 years ago by dentist Dr Anthony Lovat, OPRO is the world’s most technically advanced mouthguard company and a leading pioneer in oral protection. Through the development and deployment of cutting edge technology and the use of innovative design and production methods, OPRO has been at the forefront of protecting the safety of athletes at all levels, across a range of different sports, for more than two decades.

The family owned and run company is based in Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, and all products are designed and manufactured within the UK, and available worldwide through a network of retailers and distributors.

OPRO is the official mouthguard partner of a number of professional sporting organisations, including USA Rugby, England Rugby, New Zealand Rugby, Australia Rugby, 11 Premiership Rugby teams, 4 PRO14 teams, 5 Super Rugby Teams, 9 Super League Teams, GB Taekwondo, Great Britain Hockey, England Rugby League, England Boxing, the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA), the WGPA (Women’s Gaelic Player’s Association) and the UFC.

All OPRO mouthguards are legally CE certified and in 2007 the company was awarded the Queen’s Award for Innovation in recognition of its ground-breaking work in the field of oral protection.

About Wooden Spoon

Wooden Spoon is the children’s charity of rugby, funding life-changing projects across the UK and Ireland to support children and young people with disabilities or facing disadvantage.

We fund a range of projects, which are not just rugby focused, supporting approximately 70 projects a year including respite and medical treatment centres, sensory rooms, specialist playgrounds and community-based programmes.

By getting involved, together we can change children’s lives through the power of rugby. Find out more at www.woodenspoon.org.uk. #helpingkidsthroughrugby #everestrugby