£100,000 flood repair fund set up for devastated Welsh grassroots clubs

The Welsh Rugby Union have agreed on an action plan to support rugby clubs around Wales affected by Storm Dennis.

After a community rugby board meeting earlier this week, the WRU’s staff have been working to assess the impact of the storm in rugby communities around the country and have devised a plan to provide extra help and extra funding to impacted clubs.

An ‘exceptional circumstances’ fund has been established with £100,000 earmarked to kick-start the provision.

Additional funds will be raised by a bucket collection at Wales’ Guinness Six Nations match in Cardiff versus France, and a range of other resources are being sourced.

Some clubs have lost rugby equipment and the WRU are also taking steps to help on this front along with providing specialist expertise to recover and maintain damaged pitches.

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“These are exceptional circumstances and we have decided to allocate dedicated funds and resources to help out rugby clubs in need in communities throughout the country,” said WRU CEO Martyn Phillips.

“There is money put aside for emergencies such as these and we will take great care to ensure that we target both money and resources in the right areas so that we are helping those who need it most.”

The WRU have also said they will be providing further practical help with staff members pledging to spend a full working day at affected clubs to help out in any way they can.

Referee Nigel Owens has already been busy giving assistance, offering his help to affected clubs by sending them his signed shirts to auction off. 

He shared a post on Twitter in the wake of the storm which received a huge response. “To all the rugby clubs out there.

"If you think it will help and you want a signed ref jersey of mine that may be helpful to auction or raffle off to help raise some funds after Storm Dennis then please let me know. Will DM you to get sorted. Thinking of you all who have suffered from it.”

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