Newport Rugby Club to lobby public over expansion plan

Newport Rugby Club is to consult residents over plans for a £100,000 redevelopment of its clubhouse.

It wants to expand the clubhouse in Forton Road due to the team's ongoing success on the playing field. Club chairman Andrew Watson-Jones said three promotions in five seasons from 2003 to 2008 had led to an increase in both supporter numbers and junior players.

He said: "We have got planning permission to extend the clubhouse and now we are looking at ways to source funding.

"We are playing rugby to a fairly high standard in Newport, which means we are getting bigger crowds.

"We also now have 250 kids registered to play. They come along on a Sunday morning and are always well supported.

"The clubhouse at times is bursting at the seams so we are keen to expand."

The club hopes to start the work in June, pushing the clubhouse back six metres and improving the kitchen and changing rooms for the new girls' section.

Club officials are to canvass the public from a stand in Newport High Street on February 25.

It is hoped half the money for the refurbishment will be obtained with a grant from Sport England.

The rest is to be raised by club members at events.

Ruth Mansfield, from the club, said: "We are hoping to hold a consultation on February 25. We plan to be in the High Street from 9.30am until mid-afternoon. We will be showing local residents our plans and explaining why we want to expand.

"We have gone up so many leagues in recent years that we are no longer able to cope with the increase in supporters and the growing junior section.

"We hope that £50,000 will come from Sport England and we will raise the rest ourselves."