Despite the almost freezing conditions, 13 volunteers from nine clubs across south and west Wales attended the course which was fully funded by the WRU’s Recruitment Funding programme.
Clubs were keen to take advantage of this unique training opportunity with the course delivered by Len Smith, a consultant for the Institute of Groundmanship (IOG) and former groundsman for Glamorgan County Cricket Club.
As well as being shown the basics by Mr Smith, clubs were able to draw on his experience of ground keeping, asking a wide range of practical queries relating to their own facilities.
With clubs under increasing pressure to accommodate pitch maintenance into their budgets and volunteer requirements, this course is viewed as a good mechanism to provide clubs with some foundation knowledge in relation to grounds maintenance.
“We initially incorporated our volunteers on to a preset course with the IOG,” said Claire Thomas, WRU Club Support Advisor for Volunteering.
“However, we found ourselves in a position where the interest was sufficient for the WRU to fund a rugby club course. We hope this is the first of many more.
“It was also a brilliant opportunity for us to hold a course in one of our clubs, utilising the facilities they have and putting the rugby club at the heart of what we are trying to deliver.
“The team at TATA Steel RFC have been an excellent support in accommodating this course.”
Any club who is interested in accessing the training for volunteers should contact cthomas@wru.co.uk.
