May 15, 2008

Rugby in England is underpinned by the work of thousands of volunteers and Sudbury RFC in Suffolk recognised the contribution of a dozen of its own by presenting RFU Value the Volunteer Certificates at a reception at the club.

The event was organised by Sudbury president Gregory Underwood who invited Eastern Counties’ chair of community rugby Andrew Sarek to make the presentations.

“The work volunteers do for our club is so important,” said Underwood. “So it is nice to be able to say thank you and to show that we appreciate their efforts.”

A dozen certificates were handed out and three club members received RFU VIP ties or scarves for the outstanding contribution they have made over the years:

Wendy Pearce has been a rugby volunteer for the past 10 years and has packed a lot into that time including being one of the first – if not the first – female chairpersons of an English rugby club. Among other roles Wendy has taken on are ladies’ captain, membership secretary, social secretary, clubhouse manager and youth coach and manager.

Andy Mayers is a former club chairman whose most obvious contribution was to rebuild Sudbury’s two pitches after years of playing had taken their toll.

Andy could frequently be seen at the club at 5am working through until sundown to get them ready for the new season and he was influential in turning around the fortunes of the club bar through reducing costs, changing suppliers and increasing bar profits.

Ray Collins is the current club chairman and his leadership and drive has seen Sudbury reverse its fortunes both on and off the pitch. The season ended with the 1st XV securing promotion to London Three North East after a gradual decline from the club’s heady days in the National Leagues.

Ray has been instrumental in Sudbury moving to a new ground with a brand new clubhouse which will be built in time for the start of the 2009-10 season.

“Volunteers are so vital to our game and sometimes clubs take them for granted” said Sarek, who will be Eastern Counties’ representative on the RFU Council next season. “An event like this is an opportunity to say thank you and can mean so much to people who give their time freely for the love of the game.”

Clubs and individuals can find a wide range of information and resources to recruit and develop volunteers on the Volunteer pages of the RFU’s Community Rugby website:

http://www.community-rugby.com/communityrugby/index.cfm/Fuseaction/Home.Major/StoryTypeId/103.cfm

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