Otley Rugby Union Club has ob-tained sponsorship support in order to deliver an ambitious programme of coaching and rugby development in the local community schools.

The programme was submitted for Sportsmatching and the club has just been advised that they have been successful in their bid, doubling the funding available.

The scheme will take specialist coaches into over 40 primary and junior schools in the area and ten secondary schools and will start immediately.

The coaching will range from an introduction to TAG rugby at primary level to specialist coaching on a one-to-one basis in the secondary age groups.

Andy Brown and Paul Williams, both first team players and qualified coaches, will operate the programme in school.

Paul Jaques, the club Chairman, said: "This is a marvellous result to a lot of hard work in putting together the programme and finding sponsorship.

"To have this Sportsmatched is the icing on the cake. This will enable further partnership and integration with the school community, specialist help with team-based sport at an early stage and hopefully some keen young players in our junior section."

Sportsmatch is a business sponsorship incentive scheme that is administered in England by the Institute of Sports Spon-sorship on behalf of the government and Sport England. It aims to provide a much needed boost to grass roots sport and physical recreation throughout Great Britain.

The scheme will be launched at Otley's Cross Green ground on Saturday prior to the National Division One derby game with Wakefield.

Representatives of the sponsors Otley Motors, Noberne Doors and Whites Concrete along with coaches Andy Brown and Paul Williams and one of the participating schools will be present when the cheques are handed over.