 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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