Marlow Rugby Club enjoyed a very successful NatWest RugbyForce weekend on Saturday, with more than 30 people getting involved to improve the club’s surroundings

The Riverwoods-based team were chosen by the RFU to have grant through NatWest’s RugbyForce scheme, which saw MRC receive an undisclosed amount of money.

The money was spent on removing the overgrown and sprawling undergrowth surrounding the pond adjacent to the clubhouse and in the middle of their grounds, as well as clearing their back fence.

READ MORE: Man banned from driving for one month after speeding in Marlow

Rob Olney, the club’s operations director said: “This was to prove a herculean task.

“But with some professional help from Pinewood Tree Surgeons and a band of volunteers, we set to work.

“Armed with garden tools, thick gloves and a sense of humour we slashed, cut, tore, pulled and yanked at years of untended brambles, re-rooted trees and fallen boughs.

“It was all we could do to keep the chipper fed with the product of all our hard work.

“It is testament to the good will, great spirit and fantastic humour of the 30-40 volunteers who dedicated a significant amount of their time on a warm late summer Saturday to make a substantial improvement to our club environment.

READ MORE: NatWest give Marlow Rugby Club grant for September event

"It would have been very easy to have found an excuse to be somewhere more glamorous, but they came in strength and with such determination.

"May this give others the inspiration to volunteer at our wonderful club or in our fabulous wider Marlow and Buckinghamshire community.

"This is a perfect example that the collective power and might of the team is greater than the sum of its parts."

This annual initiative is aimed at supporting the rugby community to engage its membership and wider community for a weekend of voluntary work, to improve club facilities and playing environment at 250 clubs across the country.

READ MORE: 'We are proud' - pub receives Covid-19 Confidence certificate as lockdown is eased

He continued: “A huge thank you to all those who gave of their time, their energy and their perspiration for this great cause.

“We promise we will try and find an easier project next time.

“We also promise to keep the area we have cleared under control.

“Our volunteers all demonstrated the fantastic ‘one club’ ethos at Marlow RUFC, epitomising the core values of the RFU; Teamwork, Respect, Enjoyment, Discipline and Sportsmanship – all on show in ‘spades’ on Saturday.

“Thank you again.”

To see a full gallery, click here