Lasswade RFC
Lasswade RFC are looking to extend the depth and reach of its school-based rugby development programme throughout the large, otherwise soccer-saturated, and in places significantly deprived local community - (8 data zones in Midlothian lie within the 20% most deprived areas of Scotland, with 4 of these in the most deprived 15% - Single Midlothian Plan 2018-19.) According to recent Scottish Government statistics the community of Bonnyrigg and Lasswade is the fastest growing area in Scotland and is part of the South east Sector which hopes to greatly increase its population in the next decade. It is therefore plausible to assume that with these numbers the game of rugby in this area can grow and grow significantly.
A relatively small club, LRFC is nevertheless ambitious and offers excellent clubhouse / playing / training facilities used by several local sports and non-sporting groups. For season 2019/20, the club is destined to play again in National League 3 following a difficult, transitional on-field campaign; most recent honours include winning the SRU’s NL3 Championship in 2015. Well-established within the community since inception in 1921, “Positive Coaching Scotland”-accredited LRFC is pre-eminent amongst Midlothian clubs, regarding the Dalkeith and Penicuik clubs as community development partners rather than competitors. Lasswade has played its part in recruiting and producing talented players for upward progression, the most prominent in recent times being Scotland and Lions international Peter Wright, now a successful coach and media pundit. LRFC currently runs senior 1st and 2nd XV’s plus a Colts XV and Midi / Mini sections, with plans to introduce girls and women’s rugby in the near future.
Having previously operated community and youth rugby development on a part-time contracted basis, LRFC proposes to employ a full-time Rugby Development Officer from mid-2019, and to participate with fellow clubs in wider Midlothian development activities. Once sufficient funding from all sources has been assembled to establish a continuum, it intends to further support this position annually with a Modern Apprentice working also on various duties around the club towards a Scottish Vocational Qualification in Leisure Management.
The new development team will most weeks provide rugby and healthy, formative fun through sport to more than 1,000 children of all ages, in each gender – primarily at Lasswade High School and 9 feeder Primaries (Burnbrae, Bonnyrigg, Lasswade, Hawthornden, Rosewell, Paradykes, Loanhead, St Margaret's and St.Mary's). In addition to running LRFC mini-rugby and the club’s School of Rugby for older children, the development officer will attend numerous other groups including brownies, guides, rainbows, beavers, cubs and scouts, plus Boys Brigade, as well as other youth groups in the area. LRFC’s development staff will remain active within the RBS rugbyforce team and will retain a weekly local radio “health and fitness” slot.
On 30th April, 2019 the President of FoSR, Mr David Mackay, attended Lasswade’s ground at Hawthornden and presented a cheque to Lasswade President Mr William Knowles. This money will go a long way towards developing rugby in the Lasswade Community.
I was most impressed with the speed and efficiency of our application and feel Friends of Scottish Rugby are doing a tremendous job in promoting and assisting Scottish grass roots rugby.
David Oliver
Secretary
Lasswade RFC
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Lasswade RFC