Rugeley Rugby Club

Rugeley RFC to get its name on steps at Twickenham and support to safeguard its future as part of the RBS RugbyForce programme

Rugeley RFC will be stepping up at Twickenham during Englands RBS 6 Nations fixtures against Wales and Ireland after being selected to attend the launch of RBS RugbyForce. For the first time, grassroots rugby clubs which register for RBS RugbyForce, in advance of the two international fixtures, will have their names prominently displayed on a step at Twickenham Stadium. Created by RBS Group, RBS RugbyForce is a community volunteer programme that supports local rugby clubs in building for their future.

England international Tom Wood was on hand at Twickenham today to unveil the first names on the steps. Rugeley RFC and three other clubs (Plymstock Albion Oaks RFC from Plymouth, Saffron Walden from Essex, Shoreham RFC from Sussex) registered for RBS RugbyForce in 2011 and as big advocates of the programme, they were selected by the RFU to be the first on display at Twickenham. Representatives from all four clubs joined Wood to celebrate their new-found fame.

In partnership with the RFU and Rugby Football Foundation, RBS RugbyForce helps grassroots clubs to improve their facilities and provides guidance and tools to make their club a more sustainable business. The programme culminates in the RBS RugbyForce weekend on June 2-3 when friends, family, club members and the local community are encouraged to come together to give the club a makeover in advance of the f new season.

As a big supporter of RBS RugbyForce Wood said: “I know from playing grassroots rugby at Barkers Butts RFC in my youth how important a club like Rugeley RFC is within the local community and how much support clubs need to keep themselves afloat. RBS RugbyForce is so important because it helps clubs help themselves. Communities are encouraged to come together on the RBS RugbyForce Weekend to give that lick of paint and bit of elbow grease. A show of support from the locals can make all the difference. It will also be fantastic to see the names of hundreds of clubs on the steps during our RBS 6 Nations home games.”



Martin de Ridder, Secretary of Rugeley RFC said: “Our participation in RBS RugbyForce was vital to getting our new clubhouse project off the ground. We had been without our own clubhouse for over 20 years but shortly after registering with the programme an old dilapidated building became available to us and we used the RBS RugbyForce weekend to take the first steps towards developing our very own club house. We really can’t wait to see our club name on the steps at Twickenham and hope that one day, one of our players will be pulling on the famous white jersey having taken his or her first steps in the clubhouse we have built for ourselves.”

Bruce Cook, RBS Head of Sponsorship said: “It is clear what an important role rugby clubs play in their communities and we know they need support to sustain their future; not only for the next couple of seasons but also for the years to come. That’s the key to the RBS RugbyForce programme and why we are so proud of its successes to date - it really does make a difference.”
RBS RugbyForce is one of a number of initiatives of the Rugby Football Foundation, the charitable trust established by the Rugby Football Union in 2003. Since that time the RFU and the Foundation have invested nearly £15.7m in developing amateur rugby clubs through over 1,251 club loans and grants. In total the awards, through matched funding, have stimulated investment in projects with a total value of £53,672,075.
More than 230 clubs in England joined Rugeley RFC in taking part in the programme last year and 2012 is promising to bigger than ever. With the support of RBS Group’s retail divisions; RBS, NatWest and Ulster Bank, clubs in Scotland, Wales and Ireland can also participate and reap the rewards through the programme.

Rugby clubs across the country can register now to be part of the RBS RugbyForce programme at www.rbs.com/rugbyforce. Registration is open until Friday 23rd March, following the final weekend of the RBS 6 Nations Championship. The RBS RugbyForce Weekend takes place over June 2-3 2012.

RBS, rugby and the community

The RBS 6 Nations Championship is unique in its benefit to the rugby community. In addition to making the 15-game event possible from an operational and promotional standpoint, the RBS Group is proud to support rugby at every level, from grassroots to the RBS 6 Nations Championship. Over the nine seasons of Six Nations sponsorship to date, RBS is proud to have directly initiated a number of programmes and activities which directly benefit the community through both promotion and development of the sport. 2012 will see RBS continue to support grassroots clubs through RBS RugbyForce, a community volunteer programme that helps to improve club facilities, safeguarding their long term future.

RBS RugbyForce 2012

The first 25 English clubs to register will receive:
a) Support packages to the value of £250
b) T-shirts for up to 50 volunteers
c) Promotional Posters, an event banner, and a commemorative RBS RugbyForce Plaque

One lucky club from England will win an enhanced support package worth £5,000. Four clubs will also be selected for a secondary package of £1,250.00, which is funded by the Rugby Football Foundation. The selection for the packages will be made by an independent judging panel. The application process closes at 17:00 on Friday 23 March 2012. One registration per club. Registrations must be submitted online at www.rbs.com/rugbyforce. Any entries received after the closing date will not be legible for the support package but can still participate in RBS RugbyForce Weekend on 2nd / 3rd June, 2012.