Rugby: Loch Lomond Rugby Club wants to recruit more youngsters

Jan 22 2010 by Andy Galloway, Lennox Herald (main ed)

LOCH Lomond Rugby Club is hoping to get more youngsters playing the game to help boost squad numbers.

The club has appointed development officer Tyrone Sterry, in conjunction with Helensburgh and Clydebank Rugby Clubs, to help promote the sport to school pupils.

And club captain Tom Carruthers is hoping the move will help add to the number of players after a series of injuries this season.

He said: “There was one time this season when we had about 20 players who were either injured or unavailable.

“So we hope that this move will lead to us recruiting some young players who can play in the first team in the future.

“We already have an under-15 team, who are playing well. In two or three years the players from that team will hopefully be playing senior rugby.

“Tyrone has gone into primary and secondary schools in the area to try and promote rugby to the pupils.

“The schools have been receptive and a few coaching courses have already taken place.

“He has some good ideas, like restoring age-group rugby to schools and eventually having inter-school competitions. It is all about keeping the future of the club going.”

Loch Lomond continue to be frustrated by the weather, with Saturday’s game away to Oban Lorne the latest to be postponed.

They have not played since Saturday, December 5, a run they hope to end at home to Paisley this Saturday.

Tom is hoping for a win at Dillichip Park against the team currently second bottom of the table.

He added: “We’re just plodding along this season. We’ve lost games we shouldn’t have lost and haven’t had huge numbers.

“But the boys have generally been playing well and are trying their hardest to keep us going.

“If we play the way we can, we should beat Paisley, but those could well be famous last words!

“I think we will finish mid-table again this year. We definitely have the players to achieve that stability.”