Rugby team's milestone after turning fortunes around

A rugby union club which was at risk of folding has turned its fortunes around and is to launch a women’s team.

Ambleside Centurions said they were one of many teams in Cumbria that had seen a drop in numbers in recent years, meaning they were struggling to field a team.

But after the efforts of players and supporters, the club is now celebrating its 150th anniversary and is preparing to launch a women's team.

Andy Brown, director of rugby, said: "We knew it came down to "adapt or die so we adapted very quickly and are now going from strength to strength."

He said changing habits after the Covid pandemic had a big impact and the disappearance of the club would have been "a massive loss" to the community.

He added: "Rugby is a tough sport and requires a commitment from players that, post-Covid and during a cost-of-living crisis, means having to prioritise family needs above an individual desire to play rugby."

A women's sevens team is due to launch in September at the club, under the guidance of a former England Rose player.

Measures adopted by the club to turn its fortune around, include scrapping membership fees and offering free physio sessions for players, as well as offering wellness sessions and childcare support.

Mr Brown said: "With people’s family and work commitments, we needed to make sure we created a welcoming, friendly, social, family environment with a range of benefits that would build, improve, and support players and make playing here an attractive proposition."

The club, believed to be one of the oldest in England, was founded in 1874.

It has re-joined the competitive Cumbria League fixtures and repair works have been carried out to improve facilities at Galava Park.

The club also embraced the town's Roman ties and changed its name from Ambleside Rugby Union Club to Ambleside Centurions.

Mr Brown said: "The rebrand really caught people’s imagination and we’re hoping the buzz we’re creating around the 150th anniversary will further help return this brilliant club to its best."

Follow BBC Cumbria on X (formerly Twitter), Facebook and Instagram. Send your story ideas to [email protected].