Corby Rugby Club members vow to fight on despite double blow of Storm Ciara and coronavirus

Members of a Corby sports team, who have been battling to save their club after Storm Ciara ripped the roof off its headquarters, have had their fundraising efforts thwarted by the coronavirus outbreak.

Saturday saw the first major fundraising event to fund the roof repairs carried out in February in the aftermath of Storm Ciara with a friendly rugby match and an evening gig and raffle.

The club members need to raise £30,000 to pay for the new roof, toilets, ceilings, plastering work and flooring.

Martin Drummond, player and club treasurer, said: "We managed to raise over £1,000 on the night that takes us over the £7,000 mark.

"With the news yesterday we have taken the decision to close the club bar this week with an emergency committee meeting to agree the details.

"It looks like the season is over with the RFU (Rugby Football Union) suspending rugby at all levels in England. Not great news I am afraid."

Bar sales have provided an income for the club but the newest Government advice to avoid gatherings has stopped the bar from opening.

The team are waiting to hear from the RFU and Sport England to find out to whether they have qualified for a hardship grants.

After playing their friendly losing 70 - 7, the team enjoyed a post-match fundraiser.

"Our heads were all over the place and we didn't really warm up properly. We had been busy handing out leaflets to promote the event.

"One of our casual players James Hunter really did a lot to help with the fundraising by getting prizes for the raffle.

"Now we're going to have to close for two weeks. It's the end of our season and we can't even train together but on the positive side we can get on with the renovations.

"There's a lot to keep us busy and we have enough manpower and skills among the players. We've got a joiner, a carpenter builders and electricians who are players or ex-players.

"We've got the skills we just need some materials now."

The committee have had kind donations of plasterboard and insulation, and are now appealing for timber, paint and flooring.

To help Corby Rugby Club please contact Martin on [email protected].