Hitchin Rugby Club have been boosted by a grant enabling teammates to play together once again.

Sports clubs around the country have been hit hard by Covid and lockdown restrictions – and Hitchin RFC are no different.

So when the RFU announced the return to training back in June, the club needed to source some additional equipment to allow as many players as possible to return to training whilst keeping safe.

For many, lockdown had been a time of limited physical activity so getting as many bodies training in the new six man bubbles was the club's top priority.

The club reached out to Derrick Ashley, councillor for Hitchin South, to explain the situation and see if he could assist.

Adam Howard from Hitchin Rugby Club told Hitchin Nub News: "Derrick was very helpful and eager to help the club out, seeing the importance for both physical and mental wellbeing in getting training going as soon as possible."

Councillor Ashley used his locality budget to grant funding of £285 to the club.

This funding allowed the club to purchase new white boards meaning exercises were visible from around the pitch and allowing the bubbles to keep apart.

The community-minded Hitchin Rugby Club was founded in 1865, six years before the Rugby Football Union in 1871.

They are a registered charity whose mission is to participate in and promote the sport of rugby at all age levels within the Hitchin area. This includes mini (U5-U12), youth (U13-U18), seniors (18+), vets (35+), ladies and girls rugby (U13, U15 and U18) as well as adult touch-rugby.

This participation and promotion is accomplished through various means including playing, coaching, refereeing and community development.

Adam, the driving force behind the Backtoschooival sports festival, added: "The club is exceptionally grateful to councillor Ashley and look forward to welcoming him down to the club when we re-open."

A number of large bins were bought to be filled with soapy water to regularly wash equipment when shared equipment was allowed and plenty of sanitiser was also purchased.

The club was also able to buy a number of specialist balls which aided training in small groups with no equipment sharing at the start.

Without the funding from councillor Ashley, training would have started with very small numbers, depriving many of the opportunity to get back out on the field with their friends.

Councillor Ashley told Hitchin Nub News: 'I was very pleased to make a contribution towards new equipment for the rugby club through my county council locality budget.

"In these difficult times it is even more important that we support local clubs and their volunteers to ensure sport and recreation are made available to as many people as possible within current restrictions."

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