Five grassroots rugby projects boosted by support from 'GREAT' charitable trust

Yesterday at 08:37 AM

THE first round of small grant presentations from the ‘GREAT’ charity to support grassroots organisations in providing rugby development opportunities within their communities is almost complete.

Gregor Townsend, who is patron of the charity, presented three of the successful applicants – Strathendrick RFC, Strathmore Community Rugby Trust and Waysiders/Drumpelier RFC – with their grants of £2,500 each during the Scotland team run on Friday ahead of Saturday’s Six Nations clash against Wales.

Meanwhile, former Scotland and Lions winger Roger Baird, a trustee of ‘GREAT’, handed over the cheque to his hometown club ahead of Kelso’s Border derby win against Hawick at Poynder Park last Saturday. A date for the presentation to Hawick Youth Rugby is still to be agreed.

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‘GREAT’ – Grassroots Rugby for Everyone Awards Trust – was founded in 2024 with a mission to increase the number of people and children throughout Scotland who play and support rugby at grassroots level, and to improve the facilities in clubs and schools which enable them to do so.

The charity board also includes former pro coach Rob Moffat, legendary after-dinner speaker Willie Allan and current Edinburgh Accies coach Iain Berthinussen, under the chairmanship of Andy Scott.

"It was the brainchild of Andy, a Stewart's Melville stalwart and brother of Julian and Simon, who both got well-deserved retrospective caps recently,” explained Baird.

"Andy had this idea of appealing to people to help grassroots rugby and give kids the chance that we had in this great game when we played. I'm totally of the mind that one of our main educational pillars is sport, and the greatest thing in sport is team sport, and the life lessons that it gives to kids about discipline, looking after your mates, being on time, what you put in is what you get out – just life lessons.

"So, ‘GREAT’ is a vehicle where people can donate money, leave money in their wills, do a monthly donation, or a one off donation, or whatever, to help us help communities engage more children in sport, and enable them to experience all the benefits we did growing up playing rugby."

The £2,500 grant awarded to Kelso, to help with floodlights at the town's Croft Park, home to much schools and youth rugby for boys and girls, is one of the first batch being handed out across Scotland this month. Baird was the obvious trustee to make the trip to the Borders, and he made the presentation in front of a packed clubroom hosting a lunch before Kelso's Premiership match with Hawick. In the audience were his former Scotland teammate Jim Renwick, ex-England and Lions winger Peter Squires and a host of Kelso and Hawick legends.

"This is what it's all about – the community of rugby," he said. "Yeah, I'm a bit of a homer today, but, just to be clear, Kelso applied through the channels we've set up for the charity! No funny business!

"But it's great to be able to come back down here and see the work that is going into developing youth rugby. The senior team is a great advert for that, with so many young lads who have come through the school and Kelso Harlequins, with a great development office here in Murray Hastie, and others doing a great job.

"When you hear about the costs they have now – buses costing £500, for example, just to go and play another team in the Borders, or nearly £1,000 for a game in the city – they need help. The club here is going all week long with lots of the town's clubs using it during the week, walking rugby getting older people together, and that's fantastic for the community.

"Some of the best days of my life were spent in here. This is where rugby starts for us all and where you fall in love of the game, so we have to find ways to give kids the opportunity to play with their mates."

• The first round of GREAT small grants were awarded to:
  • Kelso RFC – for funding towards an upgrade of floodlights at Croft Park
  • Strathendrick RFC – for travel costs for the girls' teams
  • Hawick Youth Rugby – for travel costs for age grade teams
  • Strathmore Community Rugby Trust – for dunding towards an ‘Autism Friendly’ rugby project
  • Waysiders/Drumpelier RFC for funding towards portable lighting for training purposes)

"We are really excited to be presenting awards to grassroots rugby projects in Scotland, as part of our Initial Awards Programme,” said Scott. “Each of the recipients is providing valuable support to grassroots rugby in their area and the Trustees are very happy to help them with a grant.  This will hopefully relieve some of the financial pressure and allow them to complete their various projects.”

For more info, visit: www.greatrugby.scot

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