Storms Hit Rugby Clubs
Storms Ciara and Dennis had a significant impact on rugby clubs nationwide, with facilities at 40 clubs affected.
A constantly updated RFU live tracker of all the issues and the support provided has kept the situation under ongoing review.
Said National Facilities Manager, Ted Mitchell: “By using our extreme weather tracker we made sure that Area Facilities Managers and Rugby Development Officers were supporting worst-hit clubs.”
From Yorkshire to Cornwall there were flooded clubhouses, pitches and car parks, damage to roofs, floodlights, equipment, goal posts and hoardings.
West Yorkshire club Old Rishworthians, with pitches next to the River Calder at Copley, Halifax, was like the rest of the Calder Valley deep in flood water, leaving a trail of devastation when the waters eventually subsided.
As well as leaving debris on the pitch the river left one of its inhabitants. When the flood waters eventually subsided club member Kevin Mitchell found a large pike on the field.
“I thought it was dead at first. It must have been there a few days because it flooded on the Saturday night and we found it on the Wednesday or the Thursday.
“We were working on the damage at the club, the water was really high. We were putting a fence up around the pitch.
“Someone went to get a net which is used to get balls which go into the river, but it was broken by the force of the water, so we rang our mate up who has a fishing net, and he came and helped us haul it out,” said Kevin.
Once he realised that the stranded fish was still alive, Kevin carefully returned it to the swollen river.
The day before being flooded Rishworthians had played a home league match in almost perfect conditions and 15 hours later the pitch was under more than two metres of water.
Further storms and heavy rain added to the misery which now means the club may not be able to play on its pitches for the rest of the season.
With four remaining home Yorkshire Two league games as the club pushed for promotion the all-weather Rugby 365 AGP 17 miles away at Keighley was booked for the first ‘home’ game.
Two weeks after the initial storm, former Twickenham head groundsman Keith Kent, together with regional RFU officials visited the club to look at the state of the pitches and give advice about tackling future problems.
“Keith’s visit was much appreciated and threw up several useful points for the future,” said Thornton.
Rishworthians two main fields were covered in river sand, bricks and stones and Yorkshire Water pumping station tanks were overwhelmed resulting in flooding in the main car park and the beer cellar. Items were washed away or contaminated including cellar equipment, petrol lawnmowers, spiking machines, trimmers, fridges, line marking machines, fertilisers, an electric fuel pump and a compressor. Rugby equipment was also washed away including tackle pads, post protectors and flags. It is the second time flooding has devastated the club. It suffered another major flood on Boxing Day 2015
The RFU has been keeping in contact and visiting affected clubs, providing practical guidance on dealing with the aftermath of flooding and on dealing with insurance claims. Help with alternative match and training venues has included use of Rugby 365 AGPs has been uppermost as well as arranging for RFU Pitch Advisors to visit and advise on pitch recovery.
Sport England have an emergency extreme weather fund and RFU Area Facilities Managers have been actively supporting clubs making applications. Some Constituent Bodies are providing short-term grant funding or bridging loans to help clubs get back in action prior to insurance payments being received. And the RFU is monitoring the ongoing situation.
