The tsunami benefit match between the northern and southern hemispheres at Twickenham earlier this month raised $3.35 million, the International Rugby Board (IRB) said yesterday.

The IRB presented a cheque for that amount to the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), the largest single donation the WFP had ever received from a sporting event.

"The match was played specifically to raise money for the long-term rebuilding of communities on the rim of the Indian Ocean that were devastated by the tsunami," said IRB chairman Syd Millar.

The $3.35 million comprises revenues raised from ticket sales, sponsorship, broadcast rights, online and telephone donations, programme sales, concession sales and merchandise sales.

The southern hemisphere side, which contained the captains of Australia, New Zealand and South Africa, won the March 5 match 54-19.