Coventry Bears to set up satellite rugby clubs
The clubs will be set up in Coventry and Birmingham as restrictions on organised sports are eased
Coventry Bears Rugby League Football Club has been busy behind the scenes, setting up satellite clubs, bidding for funding and planning within their community for Rugby League World Cup 2021 (RLWC2021) to come to Coventry this October.
Last year’s rugby league season was cut short, only managing two games. However, 2021 is looking to be a full season throughout the summer with crowds potentially returning to the Butts Park Arena from May.
Coventry City Council has supported Coventry Bears in successfully securing funding to grow their community across the West Midlands in preparation for October’s Rugby League World Cup 2021 match at The Ricoh Arena.
The club has secured £15,000 of kit and equipment from Rugby League World Cup in legacy funding along with £30,000 from the governing body, The Rugby Football League, to put together a long-term rugby league programme for schools. This will help Coventry Bears deliver rugby league amongst the younger generation of the region over the next few years.
The funding will contribute towards the setting up of three satellite clubs specifically targeted at boys and girls ages eight to 14. The new satellite clubs are in planning and will aid the growth of the sport across the West Midlands, specifically within Coventry for juniors.
The satellite clubs will be based in the west and south of Coventry, as well as one on the east side of Birmingham and will build the roots of new communities in those areas as well as local competitive games for the players.
Specific locations of the satellite clubs will be announced soon.
Debbie Watson, CEO for Coventry Bears Rugby League Club and Community Coordinator for Bears in the Community CIC, said: “We feel really lucky to be able to get back up and running and kickstart the great things we have been planning throughout lockdown – both the professional team and our community work.
“We have established a great link with the Coventry School Games Organisers and we look forward to coaching in local schools to give the youth in the city the opportunity to try a new sport this summer and for many years to come.”