WICKLOW RFC TO TURN SOD ON PROJECT AFTER SECURING IRFU LOAN
WICKLOW RFC HOPES TO BREAK GROUND ON DEVELOPMENT
WICKLOW Rugby Club’s aims to turn the sod on its development project this week, having reached a financial agreement with the IRFU.
The IRFU will provide the growing club with a low interest loan of €100,000. The repayments on the loan will be financed by the development levy which was placed on all membership this season.
In January of this year, it was announced that the club had been awarded an allocation of €96,000 under the Sports Capital Programme (SCP) provided by the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport.
Wicklow Rugby Club Chairman Alan Long warmly greeted the arrangement with the IRFU.
‘This is a very significant development for our rugby club. The club has experienced incredible growth over recent years and continues to go from strength to strength. We now have mini-ruby, along with men’s and women’s ruby. I would say we are probably the fastest growing club in Wicklow. We have had lots of contact with the IRFU because of our growth and this arrangement will help us provide top class facilities,’ said Mr Long.
The development project involves the design, funding and construction of a new, state-ofthe-art, 160 sq metre gym, additional changing room facilities, a new treatment room and an upgraded referee’s room. There will also be a large mezzanine area which will link in with the kitchen and provide facilities to seat and cater for teams after matches.
It is hoped to turn the sod on the development this week but no date has of yet been confirmed. The club will also continue to fundraise and will run a number of different events over the coming year. Donations will also be gratefully accepted. It’s hoped to have the new facility up and running by the summer of 2020.