RFL Supremo Backs Reds

October 29, 2009 by Mark B

Chairman of the RFL and Sport England, Richard Lewis, saw first-hand the groundbreaking community work being undertaken by Salford city Reds’ Foundation throughout the region, at a specially arranged event at Sport City in Manchester

Attending an England training session, Lewis joined 100+ youngsters from schools and community Rugby League clubs in Manchester, who were presented with the once in a lifetime opportunity to meet the national team as they prepared for the Gillette Four Nations fixture against Australia this Saturday.

Lewis heaped praise on the work of the Reds’ Foundation saying:

“The community programme here has really grown over the last year or two and the way it has gone into the schools and the colleges is just fantastic.

“We are expecting even more growth in Manchester, that’s what we want and that’s the way it has been nationally and Salford City Reds have been leading the way.”

Captain, Jamie Peacock and Vice Captain Adrian Morley were among the England elite, who took time out to sign autographs and chat to the youngsters from St Peters RC High School, Wright Robinson High School and Manchester Storm ARLFC.

With Salford City Reds expansion into Greater Manchester crucial to fulfilling its ongoing obligations to the Super League licence process, the club continues in its ambition to introduce rugby league to the schools around the region, with the creation of new amateur clubs providing opportunities for local people to get involved with the sport of rugby league.

Mark Brocklehurst, Salford City Reds Foundation Community & Business Development Manager, said:

“Salford City Reds Foundation has been working extremely hard to establish a solid base for Rugby League within the City of Manchester over the last three years.

“For the first time schools are regularly playing the sport, sustainable community clubs exist and public and private partnerships are flourishing.

“Now within the City of Manchester, we have more players, coaches, teams and volunteers than ever before and it’s a great reward for all the hard work to watch England’s Four Nations squad prepare for a major international fixture.”