United Rugby Championship outfit Zebre have played their part in the humanitarian effort fighting Russia's invasion of Ukraine after helping the families of players at a Kyiv club escape the country.
More than 1.5million refugees have fled Ukraine since Russian president Vladimir Putin ordered a full-scale invasion of the country on February 24, while more than 400 civilian deaths have been confirmed.
In an effort to help ease the crisis, Zebre confirmed on Monday that a coach sent by the Italian team had successfully evacuated 49 Ukrainian people to Parma, where the URC side are based.
The majority of those aboard the bus were women, children and the elderly related to players at Kyiv rugby outfit RC Polytechnic, whose link with Zebre was only established a few months ago.
It wasn't known at the time the vital impact that bond would have when a Ukrainian player from the local Kyiv club turned up in Parma to watch the 'Zebras' play.
While more than four dozen family members successfully crossed into Italy, the players from RC Polytechnic have remained in their native land to help fight off Russian invaders.
“We did what we felt was right to do at a time like this," Zebre president Michele Dalai said in a statement. "If we say we are a big family, it is in these situations that we have the opportunity to prove it."
Zebre confirmed all those who had made the journey from the Ukrainian border were “in good health” upon their arrival in Italy.
The 49 people evacuated on a single coach by Zebre is just one fewer than the number of visas the UK government has awarded to Ukrainian refugees to date.
France’s interior minister, Gerald Darmanin, labelled the British effort “inhumane,” while Shadow Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said Conservative counterpart Priti Patel "needs to get a grip. This is shameful."
Along with their evacuation efforts, Zebre have started a GoFundMe appeal to help RC Polytechnic players and their families, which has so far raised more than €10,000 (£8,300) of its €200,000 (£166,000) target.
"A frightening drama has engulfed all those kids and their families, the world has turned upside down and many of them are struggling to survive right now," read a passage from the fundraising page.
"What has not changed and will not change is our Family, which now has to expand and make room."
As part of their appeal, Zebre are also pleading with locals to make themselves known if they have the ability to temporarily house any of those Ukrainians refugees who have completed the trip to Parma.
