Rosie Cooper MP joined club members at Ormskirk Rugby Club for their NatWest RugbyForce weekend.

The club’s Chairman Brian ‘Biscuit’ Stevenson invited MP Rosie to the club to take part in the weekend - and learn about the history and ambitious future plans for Ormskirk Rugby.

Recent years have seen the club invest thousands of pounds in improving their changing areas and social facilities, and over the RugbyForce weekend, volunteers worked on painting the goal posts, weeding the car park area, painting the internal walls, building a functional new scrum machine and most importantly laying down a new patio area at the rear of the club.

The patio is already proving popular with members who can sit out and have a drink, and is ideal for barbecues.

Rosie told QLocal this morning: “I’d like to thank Brian for inviting me down and showing me around the club and introducing me to so many hard-working community volunteers. They are the lifeblood of these organisations and do it free of charge in their own time.

“The improvements the club has made in recent years are evident with quality player changing facilities and a lovely bar area for events and socialising.

“Ormskirk Rugby Club has been part of this town for nearly a hundred years and I look forward to supporting it in any way I can in the future, as they look to continue their recent growth and success building the club, and translating that as they improve on the pitch as well.”

Added ORFC Chairman Brian Stevenson said: “We’ve done well in these volunteer events in recent years and securing a grant from NatWest RugbyForce in conjunction with the RFU was really useful, which allowed us to purchase the materials to carry out some of the improvement works.

“I’m very grateful to our Member of Parliament Rosie Cooper for taking the time to visit us, and giving us her backing to our ambitious plans to improve the club and area and be an asset to the local community.”

*Ormskirk Rugby Club was founded in 1926 and continues to run minis, juniors, colts and seniors rugby across men’s and women’s teams at Green Lane. Pre-season training begins this week and runs Tuesday and Thursday evenings 7pm, open to all even those just wishing to partake in some fitness. Contact James on 07581 364 030 or email Sporting.Director@OrmskirkRugby.com