WRU announce £100,000 fund for local rugby clubs affected by Storm Dennis
The Welsh Rugby Union has announced £100,000 for local rugby clubs across Wales affected by Storm Dennis.
The money is part of an "exceptional circumstances" fund set up by the Union to help support local clubs who have been left wrecked by flood water.
The Union also said they will help clubs replace damaged equipment, provide help recovering pitches and have bucket donations at the Wales v France Six Nations game on Saturday 22.
Rugby clubs in places like Crosskeys, Taff's Well and Bedwas have been badly affected by flooding with many launching online fundraising appeals to try and get back on their feet.
The WRU's CEO, Martyn Phillips, said they decided to put the money aside to help because of the "exceptional circumstances."
They have also pledged to send staff members to affected clubs to spend the day helping out in any way they can.
Clubs have been devastated as floodwater ruined their buildings and pitches.
Bedwas RFC said there has been tens of thousands of pounds worth of damage done to their property and, being on a floodplain, they do not have insurance.
Another club starting the mammoth clean-up is Crosskeys RFC. They have received help from the Dragons, who even washed their soaked kit for them.
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Ex-referee Nigel Owens has also offered to help by giving signed kit to clubs to auction off.
Welsh actor Michael Sheen has also launched a crowdfunding campaign to help the flood-hit communities of South Wales. The GoFundMe page raised £20,000 in the first 20 hours.