Uttoxeter Rugby Club, which trains at Oldfields Sports and Social Club in Springfield Road, Uttoxeter, has secured 25 new player jerseys as well as new sponsorship signage, thanks to a £1,500 donation from JCB.

The funding, which will go directly to supporting the club’s 55 senior team players, is also expected to help raise awareness of the sport to encourage more young players.

Uttoxeter Rugby Club Chairman Steve Woolley, who has been part of the team for over 20 years, said: “Our club has always had a very strong community spirit and we are proud of how much it has grown and developed over the years.

“The majority of our senior squad are juniors and we regularly see over 200 fans at weekend games. We want to build on our success this season and hope to encourage more players to try their hand at this great British sport.”

Uttoxeter Rugby Club was founded in 1982 at Oldfields Sports and Social Club, located on land donated by the Bamford family. The club hosts 55 adult team players and also has a successful youth team, aged between 4 and 16.