 Devizes Rugby Club is one of the first rugby clubs in the
country to receive an award from the Rugby Football Union's Community Club
Development Programme. The grant is for work to improve their pitches.
 The Community Club Development Programme is an innovative
collaboration between Government - the Department for Culture, Media & Sport
- Sport England and 16 National Governing Bodies of sport, which is aimed at
improving community club sports facilities.
Devizes Rugby Club is part of the Sports Club based at London
Road, Devizes, and the RFU grant will help to fund the latest phase of their
ambitious programme to improve the sporting facilities in the town. Club
spokesman Nick Dark said, "The town has some of the best sporting facilities in
the area. But we used to be limited by having only one pitch. The second pitch
was brought in to use at the beginning of last season with aid from the Rugby
Football Foundation, Kennet District Council and Awards for All, as well as the
support of local businesses. Now we should be able to bring both of our pitches
up to County standard and then we will be looking at the training facilities. At
the same time, we will be applying for quality assurance accreditation of the
Club".
 The RFU's Community Rugby & Operations Director Terry Burwell said,
"We are delighted to make this award to Devizes Rugby Club. The club is key to
the local and regional development of rugby union and we are committed to making
sure that the club continues to provide increased opportunities for all who wish
to participate in rugby".
Burwell added: "The Community Club Development Programme represents a
new way of working for the RFU, whereby we are involved in the initial selection
of projects that should receive funding, based on our own strategic plans.
Devizes Rugby Club has already invested in resources to increase club
membership, particularly with regard to the number of young people playing the
game, by providing rugby for all ages - from the under 7's right through to
under 18's and on in to adult rugby. They recently hosted the Emerging Schools
under 12's Tournament and the County Tag Rugby Tournament. This further
investment will help us to achieve our vision of more
people enjoying their rugby at better clubs that are open to
all."
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