THE Prairiewood High School First XV's bid to raise $70,000 to fund their trip to the World Youth Tournament in Japan has attracted almost $30,000 in support since the Australian and NSW rugby unions gave $10,000 each.

The school, in Wetherill Park in Sydney's south-west and attended by many children from poor, multi-cultural families, yesterday got a $10,000 commitment from the Coca-Cola Australia Foundation, an independent charitable trust that distributes funds to charities, organisations and community groups for programs for disadvantaged youth.

The school said it had also received an offer from Macquarie Bank and Cougar Sportswear to outfit the squad with its playing and training gear, as well as travel and touring apparel estimated to be worth another $10,000.

Tour operator JTB has also agreed to cover the airfare and accommodation of two players - worth $7000 - to take the school's kitty from $20,000, after the ARU and NSWRU contributions, to $47,000.

The school has also been inundated with contributions, ranging from a $10 note attached to a white card offering support from a grandmother who said she was not very rich, to a crocheted blanket offered for "use if it could be" to a supply of wine from the Mudgee winery of a relative of Waratahs back Sam Norton-Knight for auction.

The team has been nominated by the ARU to represent Australia at next year's tournament, but will not attend if the $70,000 can't be raised.

Rupert Guinness