LOWESTOFT and Yarmouth RFC have been sending their youth development officer into various schools in Lowestoft and Great Yarmouth to promote rugby for both boys and girls in the area to great success.

They run clubs at The Herman Primary, Great Yarmouth High, Cliff Park and Ormeston Venture Academy in the Yarmouth and Gorleston areas as well as The Denes in Lowestoft.

Rugby is a great sport for both boys and girls, promoting enjoyment, respect, sportsmanship, discipline and teamwork. L&Y are hoping to build on the success of the first 15, who are flying high at the top of their league.

The numbers of young people taking part in the sport has greatly increased through this initiative and the schools have seen a real improvement in students’ behaviour in school as well.

A lot of the young people would like to play club rugby as well but are unable to get the club because of lack of transport. So L&Y club is running an initiative to provide a mini-bus for a four-week period to assess the demand.

Swift Coaches have been very kind and given a big discount to help out, Active Norfolk provided �500 and the club has match-funded this.

The bus is collecting from outside Great Yarmouth High at 5pm, Jet Garage, Southtown Road at 5.20pm and 5.30pm at Cliff Park. It leaves the club at 7.30pm to return. Tuesdays for Years 7 & 8s and Thursday for Years 9, 10 and 11.

For more information call Jerry Stone 0797 1457050 or email jerrystone7@btinternet.com.

Jerry Stone youth development officer and junior club chair said: “We would like to make this a permanent arrangement and are hoping to buy a mini-bus.

“We are looking for companies who may be interested in advertising on the side of it to help fund it. We have already offered a �1,000 by a kind local businessman, and if we can raise another �3,000 it will be enough to buy the bus.”