Community Foundation's Top Five In 2016

5 - Christmas camps

Youngsters at Bristol Rugby Community Foundation’s Christmas Holiday Camps celebrated the festive period in style, as they were treated to a visit from first team members Mitch Eadie and Ryan Bevington.

The duo dropped in for a question and answer session and to sign autographs on the second day of the two-day camp at Cleve RFC.

Foundation coach Nick George said: “It was great to have Mitch and Ryan come down and speak to the kids. They absolutely loved having two Bristol players at the camp and asked some very good questions of them.”

FESTIVE TREAT: Mitch Eadie and Ryan Bevington at the Foundation's Christmas Camp (Photo: JMP UK).

4 - Foundation Hosts VRAC Youngsters 

The junior and mini sections from Spanish rugby club Valladolid RAC formed part of the Bristol Rugby community team for the pre-season clash with Wasps at Clifton RFC.

The youngsters arrived in Bristol on Sunday, 21st August for their week-long tour of the city – and after training days at Old Bristolians RFC, the youngsters took part in a half-time pitch parade and welcomed the players on to the pitch.

ON TOUR: Youngsters from VRAC take part in a half time parade at the pre-season clash with Wasps (Photo: JMP UK). 

3 - Break The Cycle 2016

July saw more than 200 cyclists saddle up to take on Break The Cycle 2016’s gruelling 110-mile route and raise nearly £30,000 for Bristol Rugby Community Foundation in the process.

Setting off from Ashton Gate Stadium at 7.30am, the hardy cyclists were sent on their way by a guard of honour formed of Joe Joyce, Nick Koster, Mark Sorenson, Gaston Cortes and Jack O’Connell of Bristol Rugby.

Chief community officer, Ben Breeze hailed it ‘another great event’.

FREE WHEELING: Cyclists at the start of Break The Cycle 2016 (Photo: JMP UK). 

2 - Eagle Project Celebrates Women’s Sport Week

Stars from Bristol Rugby and Bristol Ladies were in attendance as the Community Foundation’s Eagle Project celebrated Women's Sport Week in style with a training session at Sir Bernard Lovell Academy in October.

Ian Evans and Martin Roberts from Bristol Rugby and Sacha Acheson and Kathryn Buggy from Bristol Ladies dropped in to coach, train and offer advice to the girls taking part in the programme.

The training session was featured on Sky Sports News and local radio as Eagle Project showcased its work to the nation. 

RECOGNITION: Geraint Lewis takes an Eagle Project training session to mark Women's Sport Week.

1 - Foundation Honoured At Parliamentary Awards

Also in July, Bristol Rugby’s Eagle Project scooped up the PLAY Award at the Premiership Rugby Parliamentary Community Awards in Westminster - a ninth Parliamentary Award for the Foundation.

The project was named as the award winner at an illustrious ceremony held at the House of Commons, recognising projects that encourage participation in rugby across the full spectrum of social groups across the country. 

Rachel Zaltzman from the Equality and Human Rights Commission said: “The project is smart, sustainable and scalable. If they have additional funding I think it could go right across the area and really deliver rugby for girls from school, into their communities and up to a county and national level.

At the same ceremony, the Foundation’s Spectrum Project was highly commended, as was volunteer Nino Genua from Warmley Park School.

HONOURED: Eagle Project programme manager Geraint Lewis and chief community officer Ben Breeze receive the PLAY Award at Westminster in July.