England coach Eddie Jones praises Lewes Rugby Club's community volunteers

Lewes RFC players do their bit to help local people

To mark Volunteers’ Week (June 1 to 7) Jones commented on the amazing community work being undertaken by rugby club staff, players ans helpers across the country.

There are hundreds of clubs pitching in to help vulnerable members of their local communities, but Lewes was one he mentioned for their support of the local food bank.

Jones said: “This is a great week to recognise volunteers.

“Ever since I’ve been involved in rugby, volunteers have been the backbone of our sport. Right now the role of our volunteers is even more crucial.

“I want to name just a few of the many: Ryton women’s team in Tyne & Wear who’ve been dressing up in rainbow tutus and carrying a rugby ball called Hope to raise funds for the NHS; Tabard who’ve been helping Londoners by taking meals around Tower Hamlets; Lewes in Sussex, who’ve been helping the local food bank, which is so important at the moment with so many people struggling; and Edwardians in Solihull who’ve been going the extra miles fundraising for Age UK and the NHS.

“Congratulations to all of those and to all the volunteers in all the rugby clubs.

“You’re doing a great job guys. Keep it up. We appreciate it.”

The scheme that drew praise from Jones has involved a team from Lewes Rugby Club joining forces with the Lewes Coronavirus Volunteers and helping the foodbank collections over the past few weeks.

The club have also started their own assistance service (led by the men's firsts) and some of the women's team have collected and are sewing scrubs and donating. The scrubs are being made as part of the Lewes-based Dolly Scrub Hub which is being co-ordinated by the Lewes Coronavirus Volunteers.

Completed scrubs are going to the two main local hospitals - the Royal Sussex County and the Princess Royal - as well as to local carers and NHS workers.

The club have also had minis players working on Lego projects and being creative. They were the cover boys and girls of the Rugby Union's Touchline magazine and featured in the community round-up with RFU CEO Bill Sweeney.