In partnership with the RFU and Rugby Football Foundation, RBS RugbyForce helps clubs at the grassroots of the game to improve their facilities and provides guidance and tools to make their club a more sustainable business. The programme culminates in the RBS RugbyForce weekend on 2/3 June, where friends, family, members and the local community are encouraged to come together to give the club “a make-over” in advance of the forthcoming season. 

England international Tom Wood is a supporter of RBS RugbyForce: “I know from playing grassroots rugby at Barkers Butts RFC in my youth how important the rugby club is within the local community and how much support clubs need to keep themselves afloat.  That’s why RBS RugbyForce is so important as it helps clubs help themselves. Communities are encouraged to come together on the RBS RugbyForce Weekend to give that lick of paint, a bit of elbow grease and a show of support from the locals can make all the difference. Also, it will be fantastic to see hundreds of clubs on the steps during our RBS 6 Nations home games.”

Martin de Ridder, Secretary of Rugeley RFC said: “Our participation RBS RugbyForce was vital to getting our new clubhouse project off the ground. We had been without our own clubhouse for over 20 years but shortly after registering with the programme an old dilapidated building became available to us and we used the RBS RugbyForce weekend to take the first steps towards developing our very own club house. We really can’t wait to see our club name on the steps at Twickenham and hope that one day, one of our players will be pulling on the famous white jersey having taken his or her first steps in the clubhouse we have built for ourselves.”

More than 230 clubs in England took part in the programme last year and 2012 is promising to bigger than ever.  With the support of RBS Group’s retail divisions; RBS, NatWest and Ulster Bank, clubs in Scotland, Wales and Ireland can also participate and reap the rewards through the programme.

 Rugby clubs across the country can register now to be part of the RBS RugbyForce programme at www.rbs.com/rugbyforce. Registration is open until Friday 23^rd March, following the final weekend of the RBS 6 Nations Championship. The RBS RugbyForce Weekend takes place over 02/03 June 2012. Full information on the programme can be found at www.rbs.com/rugbyforce or share your views at www.facebook.com/rbsrugbyforce.