Glasgow Hawks today (Monday) employed a full-time Club Development Manager as part of its ambitious plans to develop youth rugby in the communities of North and West Glasgow.


This is the first step in the Hawks’ plans to establish a high quality Rugby Development Programme aimed at producing top quality players who will hopefully move up to the professional ranks. The programme will offer a high quality training and development environment for aspiring young players from both the private and state school sectors.


Through a sponsorship deal with Bank of Ireland, believed to be one of the biggest single financial contributions to youth rugby in Scotland, the Club has employed former Scottish Rugby Development Officer, Grant Talbot to encourage increased participation in rugby among secondary and primary school children in the west and north of Glasgow. Grant has considerable experience in the field of community development having also worked with top English Premiership side, Leicester Tigers.


The new Club Development Manager will work in partnership with Glasgow City Council Active Schools’ co-ordinators to develop links with local cluster primary and secondary schools in North and West Glasgow, as well as expand its programmes with current feeder clubs, GHK and Glasgow Academicals and their associated schools.


In addition, Hawks will also run events and festivals to promote rugby as a way to encourage healthier lifestyles.


Kenny Hamilton, President of Glasgow Hawks, said: “This is a very exciting day for Hawks and for the future of youth rugby in Glasgow. The Club is committed to developing rugby in the wider community and our plans for a Hawks’ Rugby Development Programme will provide players with the best possible chance for success.

“We are indebted to Bank of Ireland, additional sponsors and our partner schools for helping us fulfil our ambitions and we are determined that our new CDM and the Hawks Rugby Development Programme will take the game of rugby to a new level in Glasgow.”


Grant Talbot, Glasgow Hawks Club Development Manager, said: “Hawks have shown great commitment to the game and the community by employing me full-time and I am excited about the challenges ahead. Increasing participation in rugby in the wider community is a core part of my job and working in partnership with the local state schools, as well as our current feeder schools, will help promote the game to a new audience.”


Bank of Ireland is the main sponsor of this initiative, having committed considerable financial backing over a three year period.


Ken Hillen, Head of Business and Corporate Banking, Bank of Ireland said: "Bank of Ireland has a great reputation for supporting rugby in both the UK and Ireland. This sponsorship is a good example of how the Bank likes to demonstrate its commitment to young people, by providing as many opportunities as possible in different areas, including sport. Sport encompasses everything Bank of Ireland stands for - competitiveness, discipline, a spirit of fun and above all, teamwork. In supporting qualities like these we hope we are encouraging talent, which will benefit both individual development and the local community in the long term."

This article was posted on 20-Aug-2007, 09:09 by Hugh Barrow.