MALMESBURY RFC are hoping to join the league system next season and they are already making big strides off the pitch.

A massive £30,000 has already been raised to help the club reach its goal of creating a new sports club for the town.

The club have set the target of raising £1.5 million for the new sports facility which will house the rugby club as well as the town's netball and cricket clubs.

A £20,000 football pools award from the Federation of Sports & Arts as well £10,000 through self-fundraising efforts such as the hosting of local concerts has already provided the club with enough funds to build a much-needed new pitch.

Fund-raising secretary Adam Twidell said: "The fundraising venture is a joint scheme with other sports clubs in the area and we are trying to raise enough money to build a sports' facility for everyone concerned.

"Our current clubhouse, which we share with the local cricket team, is just about falling down.

"It is a real mess so we desperately need to raise enough funds to build a new one.''

He added: "Our current rugby pitch has been converted from a cow field and is not suitable for mini-rugby for health and safety reasons.

"It is a shame that in a town the size of Malmesbury the kids have to travel over 10 miles to the nearest suitable rugby pitch.

"The new site will be in the Worthys area of the town and when we succeed in raising enough money it will have a beneficial effect on the community as a whole. We are also appealing to other teams in the area to join this venture, such as the bowls and tennis teams."

Malmesbury should benefit from the new RFU initiative, in which their development officers, supported by a network of volunteers, will offer advice on coaching, courses and other club matters at all levels and age groups.

Terry Burwell, the RFU's community rugby and operations director, said: "We are very confident that we can turn the success of the England side into long term success for the good and health of the game of rugby union.

"The challenge is not necessarily about attracting people to the sport it's about keeping them involved.

"After the 1991 World Cup (when England reached the final but lost to Australia) there was a huge uptake in the sport, especially at junior level, but in many ways that legacy had burnt itself out by 1999.

"We have to make sure that the legacy of 2003 endures into 2023.''