To get the club fully fit and raring to go for next season.The club plan to remove litter, power wash, tidy up the surrounding area both inside and out as well as replace the changing room doors as part of the Ulster Bank RugbyForce Weekend which takes place on the 18th June.
Antrim RFC would like to call on the help of volunteers, including any local politicians who would like to show the community what they can do for sport in the borough as well as club members or supporters and the general public, to help with getting the club in shape for the new season. Ulster Bank RugbyForce weekend is designed to help local rugby clubs help themselves get prepared for the 2011/12 season. The programme provides advice and resources to help the clubs organise a team of volunteers for a fun day that will achieve important goals – be they little or large – to improve the club facilities.
Neil Manson Club Chairman commented:
“We’re hoping to have a big crowd from the Antrim area so we can really get Antrim RFC ready for next season and enjoy ourselves at the same time. We need to improve the surrounding area both inside and out, because good facilities and a fun environment can be the difference between players sticking with rugby or not. Ulster Bank RugbyForce will help us improve the club and make it a real focus for the community. We hope that this weekend will really help us for next season and also introduce new members to Antrim RFC so we can continue to rebuild”.
Additional support from Ulster Bank was provided for the first 50 clubs to register, where each received a small grant to help with DIY tools and refreshments on the day as well as a RugbyForce banner and T-shirts for all volunteers. This is in addition to the top support package worth up to £5,000 on offer to four clubs, this year.
Caleb Powell, IRFU President said: “I would encourage clubs to follow the example of Antrim RFC and take up the RugbyForce challenge in what is a unique way of providing an added incentive for helping clubs maintain their facilities. The chance to bring so many of the members, players and alikadoos together to really bring about any level of improvement has to be applauded. I would like to wish everybody the very best for their RugbyForce day and my hope is that it not only is a fantastic event for all those involved, but that it also brings about some real improvements to allow the club to face the new season with an even greater sense of optimism”.
Ellvena Graham, Ulster Bank, Director of Business Services Ireland said: “We’re really excited that Antrim RFC is taking part in the Ulster Bank RugbyForce Weekend. We hope it will help them prepare for the new season and that the resources we provide will make a real difference to their efforts. Ulster Bank RugbyForce is one of the cornerstones of our RBS 6 Nations support this year and into the future. Rugby Clubs are at the heart of so many of the communities in which we operate. The feedback so far has been great and this is a way we can help both the game of rugby and the people we aim to serve. Antrim RFC is taking an important step in improving the game at local level and I hope many more will follow their lead.”
