Biggar Rugby Club get £1000 from RugbyForce programme

The funding will provide 118 grassroots clubs from across Scotland with vital financial support to help the clubs make the most of their facilities, and run a successful club, both on and off the pitch.

Since the launch of the Royal Bank RugbyForce programme 12 years ago, over half a million pounds has been distributed to amateur clubs across Scotland.

The funding complements the annual RugbyForce Weekend, a celebration of the positive impact local clubs make to their community.

This year’s event was due to take place from August 8-9 but, due to the coronavirus pandemic, Scottish Rugby and Royal Bank of Scotland decided to postpone the event in line with Scottish Government guidelines.

However, to relieve financial pressure on community clubs, the funding is being released in advance of a rescheduled Royal Bank RugbyForce weekend date.

Biggar RFC past president Alistair Stewart told the Carluke and Lanark Gazette: “This £1000 is a welcome addition to the club.

“It’s free money if you like. It’s a bonus to the club.

“We’ve had a bit of expenditure recently to make sure we’re Covid compliant in terms of sanitisers.

“We have appointed a Covid co-ordinator – Neil Laing – who was a vet and had experience of dealing with Foot and Mouth outbreak.

“He felt he had something to offer the club in terms of infection control and various procedures.

“And each team at Biggar, whether it be youth, senior or ladies rugby, has to have a Covid lead who will be responsible for making sure that all players are registered for a series of questions you’ve to answer before you take part in training.

“Like: ‘Have you any symptoms like a cough or sneezing?’ All those sorts of stuff.

“All players have to hand sanitise before they go on the pitch, there’s a one way system now for access to toilets and it’s a one in, one out just as you have in pubs.

“All coaches and as many parents and players as we can encourage to do so have to take a Covid course to make sure they are up to speed with the changes.

“No more than 10 players from five households can take part in training so the amount we can do is limited really.”

Royal Bank RugbyForce is a nationwide rugby programme launched by Royal Bank of Scotland in association with Scottish Rugby.

The nationwide rugby initiative supports amateur clubs by providing funding to improve facilities and attract new members, encouraging clubs to become true community hubs with a sustainable future.

Biggar Rugby Club hope to return to training in August, with domestic rugby matches earmarked to resume in October.