Upminster Rugby Club under-15s have been awarded £300 by UK Power Networks – which will contribute to new kit and equipment.

The local grassroots team relies on donations and funding from friends, family and sponsors to make sure the club can operate for its young members who get so much out of the sport and camaraderie.

The club brings generations together with their teams that span from the minis (three years old) to the veterans, with their first team playing in the London and South East.

UK Power Networks cable jointer Bradley Smith, whose son Freddie plays for the under-15s as a prop, said: “The donation means everything to our club. Without them and our sponsors it would be near on impossible for the club to function and run what with increasing
inflation.

“For us as parents, without our donations and sponsors we wouldn’t be able to watch our boys show passion and love in the thing they enjoy most, and make us proud week in and week out.

“For the boys it’s time away from school, home and the increasing life of social media. It’s their time to unwind, exercise and have fun most importantly. We are all very thankful and truly so appreciative of this donation. It makes our son Freddie beam with
pride that this donation has come from his ‘dad’s work.’

“He knows that his dad enjoys working hard and how much of a great company they are. He will forever say ‘my dad’s work bought us those.’”

The £300 donation is set to be used to buy training equipment for the team to help improve their fitness. The boys currently have weekly training sessions that they love that range from cardio, strength and conditioning and ball work and the club plans on buying
equipment to support this.

Equipment such as resistance bands, tackle bags will be purchased with some of the funds being put towards a scrum machine. 

Bradley added: “These will give the boys the fitness, strength and skills they need to play their games, win and stay in the best fitness they can.”