CALNE Rugby Football Club were focusing on the future on Saturday when they launched their new junior section at John Bentley School.

Bath rugby players Gareth Knox and Rob Hawkins, and Jimmy Dean, Bath's rugby community development manager, More than 50 youngsters, joined for a morning of education and fun.

The event was officially opened by Calne mayor Tony Trotman, who in his days at John Bentley School played at scrum-half.

Dorset and Wilts RFU president John Wilding and Steve Silk, Wiltshire's sport development officer, were also in attendance,while Calne chairman Sean Lambourne took a hands-on role during the coaching sessions.

Melksham's under 12 team also accepted an invitation to join in the festivities.

Once Calne's new youth section is fully up and running they hold their first full training session this coming Sunday at John Bentley School, from 10am to 11.30am, they will be looking to play their opening games against Melksham and also form combined teams with their Wiltshire neighbours when numbers are low in certain age groups.

The club is calling on volunteers to step forward and assist with the new youth set-up.

It is the club's intention to always have two adults supervising each age group, and they are appealing to any parents, family members, senior players, club members and first-aiders to support the coaches.

Calne's development officer Matt Snell said: "We would like to hear from those who can give up one Sunday morning a month so that we can build a rota of support and not over-burden any one individual.

"Coaching experience is not necessary, but you will be required to hold pads and encourage the lads. The initial interest would indicate that we could run an U12, U13 and U15 team and soon after, depending on Sunday's interest, an U14 team too."

The volunteers would provide support for a group of coaches who Calne have already recruited to lead their weekly sessions at John Bentley.

These include first team player Mike Palfrey, Alan Matthews, Dave Lucas and Nick Norgrove.

First team players Alan Wicks and Matty Arnold will also be under taking an RFU Level 1 coaching course to support the youth section coaches.

On Saturday Jimmy Dean split the boys into four groups and oversaw a series of fun drills and games, assisted by the two Bath players and the Calne coaches. They stepped up the intensity after lunch with some controlled contact sessions, with the younger boys enjoying wrestling their friends to the mud during static tackling coaching.

The more experienced boys then played closely controlled games.

Anyone in getting involved with the youth section can contact Peter Brummell on (01249) 822701, or e-mail peter.brummell@btopenworld.com