Bream’s ground gets a spruce-up thanks to Rugbyforce grants
FLOWER power and flood defences were the aim of the day for Bream RFC on the Rugby Football Union coordinated Natwest Rugbyforce Weekend.
The Forest club carried out improvements and repairs to the facilities to ensure they were ready for the start of rugby, including planting new trees around the boundary of their pitches and general outdoor maintenance.
Bream, along with the likes of Longlevens, Minchinhampton, Cheltenham Saracens, Fairford and Cirencester, are among those clubs looking forward to the return of rugby, with the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) recently giving the green light for clubs to start limited and restricted contact training with inter-club non-contact fixtures able to be organised.
Chairman Jon Havers said: “We’re a voluntary run club and the weekend was absolutely fantastic.
“We’re about to go ahead in building a low energy carbon neutral clubhouse, and we’re selling a part of our car park that we don’t use to raise funds for that.
“So the money was spent improving the playing fields - we cut all the grass and planted loads of trees to help safeguard us for the future with flooding.
“We were out planting flowers as well, also allowing some of the grass to grow for the wild flowers to develop.
“It was great - it was like a team building exercise, and some of the conversations I overheard were fantastic, and it created a buzz.”
Spontaneous carpentry work on Longlevens RFC’S cellar was the highlight of their Rugbyforce weekend, says chairman Chris Yorke.
The club carried out improvements and repairs to the facilities to ensure they were ready for the start of rugby, including three apprentice carpenters - Robin Hanman, Freddie Mcghee and Will Kemmett - renovating the club’s cellar shelving.
Yorke said: “The highlight of the whole weekend, that wasn’t planned and occurred spontaneously on the day, was we have three young chaps Robin, Freddie and Will - who happen to be apprentice carpenters.
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“They were able to rip up and install a whole new cellar storage system - we had an old, rickety-rackety two shelves, but they installed and fitted four shelving units to increase storage and help aid sell-by dates and general cellar management.
“Our key goal is getting the message across that we’re open to the general public - we really wanted to make an impression in terms of our aesthetics.”
Now in its 12th year, Natwest Rugbyforce is a nationwide programme developed with the RFU which provides an opportunity for rugby clubs to welcome team members and volunteers back to help make valuable improvements to their clubs.
With the programme now able to return safely, Natwest is offering more support for the rugby community than ever before with a record number of clubs getting involved in the programme this year.
Natwest awarded grants ranging from £500 to £3,000 to clubs to help renovate facilities and remain sustainable for longer in these challenging times.
Bream and Longlevens were not the only clubs from the area to get their hands dirty, with the likes of Cheltenham North, Cirencester and Hucclecote also making the most of the programme.
To stay up to date with Natwest’s rugby activity, including Natwest Rugbyforce Weekend 2020, follow @ Natwest_rugby and @Englandrugby on Twitter.