CRAVEN College’s Rugby Academy has secured a £1,000 award of equipment and support from the Rugby Football Union Work Strand Partnership designed to get more players into competitive rugby.

Currently the college has 32 rugby players training under the guidance of coach Dean Muir and is at the top of the colleges' league being unbeaten this season. As part of the award the players will get from new kit and additional RFU coaching whilst Dean will receive RFU support to develop new partnerships and funding streams.

Hamish Pratt, rugby development officer at Rugby Football Union, said: “We are very proud to be supporting Craven College and their Rugby Union provision. The support from players, staff and our community clubs has been outstanding as we look to strengthen what our sport can offer not just on the pitch but also off.

"This is from coaching, primary school delivery and careers paths moving forward. The support is linked to targeted work programmes in line with the great opportunity the World Cup will offer and we are in partnership with the college to establishing Rugby Union for many more years to come.”

Dean added: "The donation will really help to take the college team forwards and add to the values they develop both on and off the pitch. Looking at the core values of rugby, developing life skills as well as sporting skills, respect and making friends is a huge part of the rugby ethos.”

With the Rugby World Cup in 2015, the money will help to maximise the future potential of local young players.