Royal Bank Rugbyforce help Scottish youngsters stay on the pitch

This year has reinforced the importance of sport and activity for a life better spent and Royal Bank Rugbyforce has supported community clubs to keep on playing.

The muddy kits, dirty knees and smiling faces of kids running around a rugby pitch is a welcome distraction in 2020.

The grassroots initiative run by Royal Bank of Scotland in association with Scottish Rugby is designed to help clubs up and down the country to attract and retain members, develop their facilities and be more sustainable for the future.

Challenges posed by the pandemic made the support of Rugbyforce even more welcome.

Each year, clubs across Scotland can benefit from funding, new kit, guest appearances and expertise.

In 2020, two Hero Clubs were chosen – Jedforest RFC and Loch Lomond RFC – each picking up

£1000 prize funds and support for a “return to rugby” event.

Community events at each club remain on hold, but it hasn’t stopped them going from strength to strength.

“On the back of being allocated hero status, our mini’s section has seen a massive upsurge in children starting to play rugby in Jedburgh,” says David Mckay, Jed Mini’s Convenor.

“We’ve had a 15 per cent increase in player registrations within the junior members section and we internationalist Fraser Brown and Scotland captain Stuart Hogg, which they can use to encourage more young players to sign up and take part in rugby.

“The social media and public exposure that Royal Bank Rugbyforce brings to grassroots rugby is immensely important, especially at this time,” added David Mckay.

“It further boosts our club’s profile and hopefully encourages more children to play rugby.”

Iain Norrie, the club captain at Loch Lomond, agrees: “Being able to play and remain involved in sport has been massively beneficial for our kids’ physical and mental health this year.”