Huge cost of rugby break-in

Club’s ‘Lions breakfast’ cancelled after thieves take drinks and wreck kitchen

Rugby fans in Ashford were unable to roar the British Lions on to victory after thieves broke into a clubhouse to steal a safe and alcohol, causing damage.

Ashford Rugby Club had hoped to host a Lions breakfast on Saturday, when Warren Gatland’s men ended New Zealand’s eightyear unbeaten home record.

But thieves raided the clubhouse in Kinneys Lane between Friday night and Saturday morning, causing extensive damage to the kitchen, which meant the event had to be cancelled.

Club honorary secretary John Heaver said: “They went in over the top of the roof and have stolen the safe. The inside of the kitchen was bashed up.

“The Lions breakfast had to be cancelled, and the event for the next Lions’ game this Saturday will have to be cancelled as we don’t have a proper working kitchen, and no alcohol on the premises.

“We have bought all the food for the breakfasts already, so all the food will have gone to waste, and everyone who has paid will have to be reimbursed.”

Mr Heaver said the costs to the club would have been higher had the theft taken place during the season, but nonetheless it will cost the club financially.

He said: “It will cost us a huge loss of revenue – we have the fireworks event in the autumn and we hope to recoup the losses during that event.”

Police were called after the discovery of the damage on Saturday morning, and say officers are investigating the overnight burglary.

Anyone with information is asked to call the appeal line on 01843 222289 and quote incident reference number 01-0289 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

The British and Irish Lions recorded a narrow victory in the game against the All Blacks in the second test in Wellington, to set up a series decider at Eden Park in Auckland on Saturday at 8.35am.

‘We have bought all the food already, so all the food will have gone to waste’

Ashford Rugby Club’s Kinneys Field home