Ledbury Rugby Club is preparing for the biggest and most ambitious international tour in its history, on behalf of underprivileged Chilean children.

The ten-day tour of Chile and Argentina in June 2006 has been two years in the planning and will cost each of the 40-strong party around £1,000 to join. The club plans to meet its own total costs of £40,000.

Members have launched a fundraising drive to take £9,000 of rugby equipment to Chile for sport-loving youngsters there, and to present it as a gift to Chilean RFU officials at a special reception at the British Embassy in Santiago.

Local businesses will been asked to dig deep and sponsorship has already been offered by Ledbury's Talbot Hotel, Glevum Sheet Metal of Gloucester and the Much Marcle wine importer Grape2Wine.

Tour chairman Craig Price said: "This the furthest and biggest tour ever organised by the rugby club. In the past, we've been to Holland, Ireland and Germany. This time, we offered members the option of Japan, South Africa and other places and they decided on South America."

Teams for games are still being lined up but the first match will be against a side from the most exclusive ex-pats club in Chile, The Prince of Wales Country Club.

The £9,000 raised for the children's sports equipment will pay for shirts, socks, shorts, post protectors, flags and even a scrummaging machine, if the airline allows such a bulky item to be transported.

Anyone wishing to help should phone the rugby club on 01531 631788.