Biggar Rugby awarded £50,000 grant from the SRU

The money, made available through Cashback for Communities Grant Funding, is a significant contribution towards clubhouse enlargement and the construction of an additional four changing rooms at Hartreemill.

“It is brilliant news that we have a chance to develop our facilities,” said Biggar RFC head coach Gary Parker.

And club match reporter Alistair Stewart added: “The existing changing rooms are quite small, so this development will assist considerably in accommodating the large number of teams which visit each week.”

It is expected that the work will commence next spring with completion in time for the start of the 2012-2013 season.

Exact plans have still to be finalised and additional funding will be required to complete the extension which will be built on the ‘road side’ of the existing clubhouse.

This is a great boost to the original planned development drawn up three years ago, also including an enlarged function area and pitch reconfiguration which are in phases two and three of the overall development.

It’s terrific news for head coach Parker (45), who recently started his second spell in charge at Biggar in place of Kiwi Ants Posa.

For more on this story pick up a copy of the Carluke and Lanark Gazette, which is in the shops now.