WALLABY great turned Rugby Union Players Association CEO Tony Dempsey travelled to Orange yesterday to officially launch a fundraiser that will pour around $30,000 into the coffers of Cancer Care Western NSW.

The Masters of Rugby Tour, to be held over the weekend of August 29 - 31, will culminate in a gala dinner at the Hotel Canobolas where locals will have the chance to mix it with the past and present rugby idols.

Waratahs player Kurtley Beale, Clyde Rathbone and 2007 World Cup fullback Julian Huxley will attend, as will Andrew Blade, Owen Finegan, David Croft, Tim Gavin and Bill Young.

According to Mr Dempsey, the off field conduct of players of all sporting codes has overshadowed the work the sporting stars do off-field.

“This weekend is a great opportunity for us to show that we are committed to role modelling and engaging regional communities with our game because it’s not all about what we do on field,” he said.

“With a competitive AFL code making inroads and other growing sporting codes like soccer, we need to set ourselves apart in a competitive environment and as what better way to do that then by giving back to the communities that have supported our code.”

As a key driver of Cancer Care Western NSW, John Carpenter said a contribution in the order of $20,000 to $30,000 would be “significant to say the least”.

“The thing about what we are doing is that it is not a locally based cause but one that will benefit around 30,000 people throughout the region,” Mr Carpenter said.

Tickets to the gala dinner on Saturday August 30 are $95 and can be obtained from the Hotel Canobolas.