Coach hopes Rugby World Cup can enhance Cambridgeshire club's image
March Bears Rugby Club currently field just one senior team
A grassroots rugby coach in Cambridgeshire believes more success could come around on and off the pitch thanks to this year's World Cup in France.
March Bears ply their trade in the Eastern Counties League and field one senior team with plans to form a second adult men’s side.
They’ve seen interest from players surge in recent weeks and their men’s team have been performing well despite missing out on the Division One West title last season.
Kris Jones coaches the men’s team at March Bears:
“Even though there’s part of me as a Welshman that doesn't want England to do very well, the coach part of me wants England to do well so we can bolster the profile of March and get more boys playing,” he said.
“We do not care what level you’re at - it’s about building the foundations and skill level, not going out trying to smash and kill people.
“It’s about getting the basic skills right and the rest of your game will come.”
More than £70 million has been invested by Sport England during the last 10 years to improving the infrastructure in grassroots rugby, such as providing good quality pitches and changing facilities.
Figures from Sport England’s active lives survey report found in a 12 month period between November 2021 and 2022, 1.7% more people nationally were doing 150 minutes or more of moderate intense physical activity a week.
"We want to invest in players that come here"
Jones is keen to improve his squad at March, which he hopes the World Cup can help achieve.
“We want to be able to show we invest in any players that come here and with the money coming into the club, we could branch out further (into other Cambridgeshire towns and cities) and allow for more professional coaching,” he said.
“The success of our first team over the last couple of years is getting people into the clubhouse, getting money behind the bar, people sponsoring which allows us to bolster the image of the club.”
England play Argentina in their World Cup opener in Marseille tonight before facing Japan on September 17.
England’s Rugby World Cup fixtures
September 9 – Argentina: Stade de Marseille – 8pm
September 17 – Japan: Stade de Nice – 8pm
September 23 - Chile: Stade Pierre-Mauroy – 4.45pm
October 7 - Samoa: Stade Pierre-Mauroy – 4.45pm