Rugby clubs’ teamwork in testing times
With Covid-19 bringing rugby to a standstill, grassroots clubs throughout England are doing what they can to show support.
Battersea Ironsides, where England’s Kyle Sinckler started his rugby career, and who recently won Sports Club of the Year from Active Wandsworth Awards, are pitching in by fundraising and ramping up support for St George’s Hospital, Tooting, where they already have close connections.
“A lot of our players, parents and volunteers are either employees or connected with the hospital in some way,” said Rob Newman, club chairman. “We have been long-term partners of their charity and that’s the logical way for us to help while carefully aligning with current government advice. We have a Just Giving page which has already reached around £2,000 and is rising all the time.
“We are also recommending those who are appropriate to sign up with NHS Volunteer Responders, which aims to recruit a quarter of a million volunteers to help the NHS. Our members are also being asked to keep in touch with our older former players, many of them over 70, and to look out for them and other vulnerable people in our community.”
In London’s inner city, the club, with one of the largest mini and youth sections in the country, is also looking at providing advice on indoor training and nutrition for members living alone, or with their families, in city flats.
Someone to talk to
Newark RUFC in Nottinghamshire started a buddy system with people asked to phone at least one other club member regularly to guard against isolation. They have also created a hotline where they can take requests for help, anything from shopping to dog walking, for those staying in their homes. They are not just reaching out to club members but also any of their neighbours, with a ten-strong team led by rugby writer Rob Wildman, and more volunteers standing by.
Huddersfield YMCA RFC, in West Yorkshire quickly created a Facebook group offering support to the vulnerable, and the club’s development officer, Jess Bunyard, who’s leading on it said: “It was the idea of our director of rugby Damon Scholes, who thought we should set up an online presence for anyone in need.
“Our members are keen to help the local community and we have 40 volunteers ready to go, whether for a food shop for someone self-isolating, or just a phone call to someone feeling lonely or vulnerable.”
With Prime Minister Boris Johnson instructing the nation to stay in their homes, leaving only when absolutely necessary, Jess believes it will be hard for many, and the North One East side wants to help.
“This will affect mental health and we will give support to the community where we can,” she said. “Finding yourself suddenly at home full-time when you’re not used to it can be confusing and having someone to talk to is something we are keen to stress.
“There has been a positive response from the wider community. Even if you don’t need help, to see your local rugby club offering it is reassuring. In these uncertain times it’s good to know help is out there.”
Staying active
In North Yorkshire, before the lockdown, Redcar RUFC offered free rugby balls to their young players. They have 170, aged six to 18 on their books.
“If children become accustomed to sitting indoors, playing computer games and watching TV, my concern is this becomes a habit and when rugby and group physical activity returns it will be harder to re-engage,” said Chairman Neil Young. “We had 100 rugby balls at the club to help our young people stay active, while sharpening up their skills.”
The club is also working on skills, challenges and coaching drills to try at home.
Cambridge RUFC are at the ready too, their website says: “We are offering a collection and delivery service. Appropriate distancing and cleanliness steps are in place. We may even walk your dog.”
From Surrey to Durham
Horden and Peterlee RUFC in County Durham put out messaging that they were available to help anyone in need. Committee member Neil Hartley then got a call from the local council after a family in Surrey asked for help for elderly parents in the Peterlee area. Club members are also stepping up delivering food to the local food bank.
Marlow RUFC in Buckinghamshire was quick to react to the Covid-19 crisis announcing: “We would like to ensure that we are doing our best to support others in Marlow at this time. We want to ensure that Marlow Rugby Club is positioned to be an effective community hub for local residents. We believe that we can divert our energies to support those in genuine need over the coming weeks and months.”
Offering two elements of support to their community, volunteers already identified are available to support the elderly or vulnerable.
“We can arrange for transportation of provisions or general support where appropriate for those most in need. During the period of suspension of rugby activities we’d also like to offer use of our facilities to community support groups, medical responders and other emergency services, response command and control teams or civic bodies involved in the effort to fight this pandemic,” they said.
Club Chairman Jeremy Povey explained: “The collective attention quickly turned to how we can use our resources to support members of the community that are most affected by this pandemic. We have manpower and we have facilities that we can redeploy. This will be a tough period of for everyone. Teamwork is engrained in our ethos and we are ready to assist that bigger team that is the Marlow community.”
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