DURSLEY Rugby Club held the official grand opening of their spruced-up clubhouse – with several local dignitaries coming along to see the changes.

Stroud MP Neil Carmichael, Mayor of Dursley Jane Ball and leader of Stroud District Council Geoff Wheeler attended the event on Saturday, October 25.

The new and improved clubhouse cost more than £20,000 and was opened by President of Gloucestershire Rugby Football Union Geoff Davies.

In anticipation of England hosting the Rugby World Cup in 2015, the Rugby Football Union developed a programme of grants for rugby clubs to enhance their clubhouses and recruit more members.

The idea behind the RFU grants was to help local rugby clubs generate more income through their bars and other facilities.

Dursley RFC put in a successful application for a grant in January and received a £10,000 grant from the RFU on the condition they made an equal contribution to the development.

The grant was approved in April and work commenced in late June. The club did some of their own fundraising to equal the amount put in by the RFU.

The work, which was completed by the end of August, saw changes to the main entrances, the bar, the bathroom facilities, lighting and a general modernisation of the old clubhouse which had fallen into a state of disrepair.

Dursley RFC chairman Simon Bilous said: “The development has been a massive improvement. The whole place looks much more welcoming, warm and friendly.

“It was all about the wow factor, and one of the conditions of the grant was that we had to make changes that made a big impact. We think we achieved that. Some members have come in and literally said ‘wow’.

“We’ve had a lot of positive feedback from both guests and visitors. Other teams coming in to play have seen the changes and thought they’re brilliant.”

Mr Carmichael said the new clubhouse was great to see, noting a positive response from visitors to the development.

He said: "The day was really good because the club did really need this refurbishment.

"The newly refurbished clubhouse is no comparison. It will be especially good for parents and young children using the facilities.

"The response was really good; so good, in fact, that the idea of building a new changing room was brought up on the day and received very positively."