Over the last two years we have been piloting our youth development programme (KARI - Kids Active Rugby Initiative), working successfully with a number of primary and secondary schools in the local area, as well as running summer touch ruby programmes open to all local children.

The objective of this programme is to provide specialist rugby coaching to teachers, their pupils and pre school children with the aim of encouraging children to participate in rugby and stay healthy.

Over the summer we have been actively seeking sponsorship from businesses to enable us to roll the programme out. As a result, we are pleased to announce that two businesses (Servomex and Riverdale Developments) have agreed to support this massively important programme. This funding will now enable CRFC to provide full time support to schools and clubs and drive the programme forward.

It also gives us great pleasure to announce the full time appointment of Ali Main as the new Rugby Development Officer who will lead the programme on behalf of Crowborough Rugby Club.

Ali has recently achieved a First-Class Honours Degree in Sport and Physical Education and has a strong sporting profile achieving caps in the Welsh Championship, University Super BUCS league and he is a core member of CRFC 1st XV.

As a local, Ali is ideally placed to build strong local relationships, particularly at Beacon Academy where he studied.

In addition to working with schools and the local community he will also become a familiar face with coaches and parents on Sundays as he starts to build valuable relationships with coaches from all age groups ensuring coaching consistency and speedy sharing of coaching best practice.

We would also like to thank Paddy O’Hara who ran the pilot and who worked tirelessly over the last two years to make the programme a success, creating a great platform for Ali to build on. On behalf of everyone at Crowborough RFC we wish him well for the future.