Rugby is set for a big boost in Colchester after the All Blacks revealed plans for a £250,000 clubhouse extension.

Colchester RFC wants to improve facilities at Mill Road in a bid to attract more players to the sport.

The move will see a major upgrade of changing rooms and non playing facilities.

Colchester Council, which owns the ground, has already pledged £70,000 to the project.

The club also hopes to secure cash from funding bodies such as Sport England and the Rugby Football Union, as well as raising up to £35,000 itself.

Club spokesman John Powell said: "We are pretty confident that 12 months from now we will have that sort of money."

A planning application is expected to be made over the next few days.

It will be the first major development at the clubhouse since the club moved there 25 years ago.

Published Thursday August 19, 2004

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