Press Release: For immediate use 10th October 2005

RBSI puts Guernsey Youth Rugby in the Hampshire Cup Competition.

Guernsey Youth and Mini Rugby Club for under 12s to under 16s has entered the Hampshire Cup competition  with the help of a substantial sponsorship package from The Royal Bank of Scotland International Limited (RBSI)..

Dave Parish, local director of Youth Rugby, said: “We are delighted that RBSI has agreed this very generous sponsorship package. It is only by being able to participate in regular competitive fixtures, such as the Hampshire Cup, that aspiring young Guernsey rugby players can improve their skills.”    

The financial package from the bank subsidises the heavy costs of sending local teams to the many away games involved in the competition, in which at least sixteen other clubs participate.    

Ken Bradley, director of corporate banking at RBSI in Guernsey, is firmly behind the sponsoship. Explaining the reasons for RBSI’s involvement, he commented, “RBSI’s support of rugby in Guernsey is a natural extension of The Royal Bank of Scotland Group’s ongoing involvement in the Six Nations rugby tournament and international Rugby Union. What better way to help Guernsey rugby than by offering practical support to develop the next generation of island and professional players. RBSI is very pleased to be involved in Guernsey Youth Rugby.”    

Guernsey Youth and Mini Rugby Club is affiliated to the Hampshire Rugby Union and, therefore, is eligible to play in the county’s youth cup competitions. The players will compete against other Hampshire clubs including Winchester, Basingstoke, Andover, Eastleigh, Havant, Trojans, Totonians, Alton, New Milton, Gosport and Fareham, Ellingham and Ringwood, Vectis,  Petersfield and United Services.

The first round of the Cup competition took place during the weekend of Saturday 3rd October, where Guernsey under 14s were drawn away against Winchester.