URC referees wear pink armbands for Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Match officials across the United Rugby Championship are wearing pink armbands at every game throughout October.

The league launched the initiative to support Breast Cancer Awareness Month and encourage early detection across rugby communities in Ireland and abroad.

The campaign carries a deeply personal meaning this year as the rugby community rallies behind South African official Aimee Barrett-Theron.

Barrett-Theron is widely respected right across world rugby. She stepped away from officiating recently to undergo treatment following a breast cancer diagnosis.

Now on her recovery journey, she is using her voice to urge people to check for body changes and seek immediate medical advice if something feels wrong.

Along with the pink armbands, URC clubs across all five territories are painting their digital channels pink to help spread the life saving message.

The league hopes using its collective voice will encourage fans to get checked, check for changes, and speak up about breast cancer awareness.