Kentish Gazette Canterbury & District
In the spotlight rugby can-
TOUGH OPENING FRIENDLY FOR CANTERBURY
Canterbury Rugby Club have been given a glowing endorsement by England flanker Chris Robshaw after being nominated for the Pitchero Rugby Club of the Year at September’s National Rugby Awards.
Canterbury – who boast teams from under-6 to senior level and for women and girls as well as touch rugby – have launched two initiatives to impact on otherwise socially isolated groups of people.
The club are now one of only four clubs in the country with a wheelchair section, which was launched in 2014, and have a groundbreaking partnership with Dover-based charity Migrant Help to support families settling in the UK and helping them integrate within their local community.
Robshaw might be busy preparing for the new season but the England and Harlequins flanker has been quick to highlight the efforts of Canterbury.
On September 3, Robshaw and his Harlequins side raise the curtain on the new Premiership rugby season when they take on Bristol Rugby at Twickenham.
Just three days earlier, however, the home of English rugby will be centre stage for the great and good of the sport’s grassroots heroes for the annual National Rugby Awards, now in association with the RFU.
Canterbury will be getting their moment in the spotlight after they were nominated for the award in a shortlist of six, alongside nominees from Richmond, Aylesbury, Saracens Amateurs, Littleborough and Belsize Park rugby clubs. Canterbury have given themselves a searching test by taking on National Division 1 side Esher in their opening preseason friendly at The Marine Travel
“It’s hugely important to build and promote the grassroots of the game,” said Robshaw.
“That is where every international player starts and first falls in love with the game. And that is what the game is about, enjoyment.
“We want to celebrate everything that is great about rugby, from the grassroots right the way through to club and internationals.
“This ceremony is a chance to celebrate clubs like Canterbury all under one roof.
“When we as professionals get to go back to our first clubs it is fantastic, and the game is still growing. After the World Cup, it is all about building and still getting out to more and more clubs to celebrate.”
From the chairman to the individual who has swept the changing rooms for the past 30 years, the National Rugby Awards recognises everyone involved in the game, with 14 different categories to be contested.
The awards ceremony on September 1 will be attended by rugby celebrities as well as players, leaving Robshaw confident of bettering last year’s inaugural awards night.
He said: “There are a variety of different awards, from Men’s Player of the Year, Women’s Team of the Year, Pitchero Club of the Year, right through to Lifetime Achievement Award. It’s going to be a great night.”
more information about the National Rugby Awards, visitwww. nationalrugbyawards.co.uk Ground on Saturday. New head of rugby, Andy Pratt, will be assessing the form of several recruits to his senior squad. He has two further games, against Westcombe Park at home and Southend away, to refine his plans before the start of the league season on September 3. Saturday’s kick-off is 3pm.