The Lady Bay stadium, pitch, and clubhouse of Nottingham Rugby Club have been affected by heavy flooding. In response, the 147-year-old club has initiated a fundraising campaign as their insurance does not cover damage from floods. They are seeking £50,000 in donations to aid in their recovery.

A statement posted on the crowdfunding website JustGiving is asking for the support of the local rugby community during these challenging times for the club.

By Monday evening, nearly £6,000 had been collected through the efforts of prominent English clubs, such as Saracens and Leicester Tigers, who shared the call for donations on social media.

Dave Ross, head coach of Nottingham, expressed his gratitude for the support from the rugby community during these challenging times. He also acknowledged the strong camaraderie between the Premiership and Championship leagues, as shown through their participation in the Prem Cup and the recognition of the Championship as a valuable training ground for young players.

Over the past few years, Tom Youngs, Dan Cole, Will Stuart, and Ollie Chessum, all members of the England team, spent time honing their skills in Nottingham.

This weekend’s fixture against London Scottish has been postponed but Ross believes the Archers will be ready to host the British Army in a friendly on 26 January. And thanks to partnerships with Nottingham Trent University, as well as the University of Nottingham, training has been uninterrupted as Ross prepares his team for an away trip to Cornish Pirates next week.

Ross stated that the current situation is not perfect, but they are managing to move forward. He mentioned that everyone has been pitching in, including the players who were wearing wellies and helping out. However, they will still be attending training this evening, so it’s almost like it’s business as usual.

“There are numerous kind-hearted individuals at the club who prioritize the betterment of the community. Countless volunteers have offered their assistance and the efforts to revive our operations have been ongoing. However, nature can be unpredictable at times.”

Ross was unable to specify how, or if, the Rugby Football Union could offer assistance and the club had yet to respond to inquiries for an official statement.

Source: theguardian.com