A TRIO of Kings Norton RFC representatives were in attendance at a civic reception with Birmingham Lord Mayor Councillor Raymond Hassall to welcome the Rugby World Cup to the city.
Delegates from all the Greater Birmingham rugby football clubs were invited along with clubs involved in the Birmingham Rugby Partnership (BRP), including Hopwood-based Kings Norton.
Kings Norton have been very active in their role as a Leader Club and have succesfully held tournaments at their Hopwood Park ground to introduce young children to the benefits of playing rugby.
Birmingham will be hosting two pool matches at Villa Park – South Africa versus Samoa on September 26 and Australia v Uruguay on September 27 – and, to get in the mood, a civic reception was held in the Banqueting Suite at the Birmingham Council House by Cllr Hassall to welcome the trophy to Birmingham.
Those present were welcomed by the Lord Mayor and guest speakers, including Peter Grace who is heading the BRP project, and the objectives were to maximise the Rugby World Cup 2015 legacy, making sure local clubs are ready to take up the predicted interest in the game after the event is over.
Delegates who represented Kings Norton were Andy Moseley, Craig Ellicott and Jim Williams and they received a certificate on behalf of Kings Norton RFC for the club’s contribution as a Leader Club in the project – one of just 14 awarded to local rugby football clubs.
For further information about junior rugby at Kings Norton, contact Jim Williams on 0121 682 8600 (home) or 07905 343510.