Newport Gwent Dragons rugby union team has joined forces with local charity, the Sparkle Appeal, to help raise £1.5m for a new purpose-built centre for disabled children.

The campaign, launched by the South Gwent Children's Foundation in 2003, aims to raise £6m for the construction of the new facility at High Cross, which will cater for more than 1,200 children in the local area who suffer from complex disabilities. A training gym, a hydrotherapy pool, an 85-seat conference facility and eight therapy and assessment rooms are planned as part of the centre, which aims to relieve the strain on families currently having to travel all over the UK to get the necessary care.

The Dragons will wear a specially commissioned charity shirt against the Scarlets rugby union team on 31 December, which will be donated to the Sparkle Appeal in a bid to raise funds. Rodney Parade stadium, the team's home ground, will also be used to host a number of special fundraising events for the Sparkle Appeal.

Dragons' defence coach, Colin Charvis, said: "When you see what some of these families are having to manage on a day-to-day basis at the moment, it makes you realise just how important this facility is."