Castleford Rugby Union Club opens its gates to the community

In addition to its senior teams, juniors and girls returning to training the club is hoping their facilities can attract a wider demographic.

Rugby League Masters side, Castleford Masters – recently re-branded from their previous name of Methley Masters – will train and play their home games at the Willowbridge Lane headquarters of the union club which played host a football camp run by locally based, GT Sports, over the Easter holidays.

Castleford RUFC’s longstanding committee member Alan Wandless is pleased that different sports are going to use the facilities. He said: “We have always styled ourselves as a family-based club with its heart in the community and we are looking to deliver more sport to more local people.

“We welcome Castleford Masters RL and hope that they will see it as their new home. It has been great to see the number of young children enjoying themselves on our fields during their holidays.

Castleford Masters had their well attended first training session and secretary Frank Slater said: “We are delighted to be associated with the club and very grateful for the opportunity to have the club as our new home.

“The facilities are second to none and everyone within the club has welcomed us with open arms. We are really looking forward to the coming season and also helping in any way we can with the club’s community efforts.”

The Masters train every Thursday from 7pm and are looking forward to playing their first RL Masters’ League home match on Saturday, June 19.

GT Sports are bringing their football and multi-sport expertise to widen the offering of activities at the club and, in addition to holding their Easter holiday camps at the club, they started their football centre sessions there last Friday.

GT Sports’ Glenn Thornton said: “We had a superb week at our first ever football camp in Castleford. Thanks must go to Castleford RUFC for providing us with a great facility to be able to host a camp and on the second day they even pitched in with some rugby practice, which our footballers enjoyed.”

Castleford RUFC, with support from Wakefield Council’s Neighbourhood Improvement Fund, will be working with GT Sports to run a 10-week long Families Together fun exercise and games programme from May 7 at Willowbridge Lane.