Bridgnorth Rugby Club's future is safe after lease deal

Bridgnorth Town Council has confirmed its commitment to providing the club's long term playing certainty on the Edgar Davies Ground.

The club has enjoyed huge success on the field, with its first team this year reaching the highest level of rugby in it's 54-year history.

But many issues have been raised, including inadequate volume of playing space and poor training and changing facilities.

Currently, the club is split across three sites – the Edgar Davies Ground in Severn Park, The Friars, and Swancote Energy Park. The main clubhouse is The Bull on Bridge Street.

There are limited changing facilities on the EDG and The Friars, more extensive changing facilities at The Bull and no changing facilities at Swancote Energy Park.

Investing in the club's sites would require significant financial support from the Rugby Football Union, along with fundraising and sponsorship.

But without knowing whether the sites would be secureaved in the long-term, the club could not start investing in the facilities.

Now the town council has stepped in to confirm a 36-year lease on Severn Park to the club and a 50-year lease of land on Bandon Lane, near Severn Park, which will provide parking space or a new clubhouse.

Bridgnorth Rugby Club will now consider the construction of a new purpose-built clubhouse either on Severn Park or on Bandon Lane, subject to planning permission.

These new leases secure the future of the club on the Edgar Davies Ground and Severn Park.