A GROUP of village rugby players have received a sponsorship boost from Devizes brewer Wadworth.

The club, formerly known as the Benger Nomads due to their lack of a home pitch, have been renamed the Wellesley Arms Rugby Club after the Devizes firm agreed to fund the purchase of their new kit.

They formed last season and won one of their eight matches, the success coming in a 10-5 victory over Melksham Veterans.

But, unlike other clubs in the area, the Sutton Benger-based outfit have found raising a side a relatively simple exercise so far.

Founder member and treasurer Simon Kingsley is hoping the current level of enthusiasm will continue into next season.

He said: "Some of the village sides in the area are struggling to raise a team, while some of the club sides are finding it difficult to raise one team whereas once they could raise two.

"It is an ongoing trend in rugby for people to stop playing for whatever reason, but I'd like to think we buck the trend.

"We thought we'd struggle in terms of player numbers, but we've done quite well. There is no doubt the standard of our play has also improved over the past six months."

The idea to form a Sutton Benger rugby team was hatched at the Wellesley Arms and landlady Lynda Murphy has been appointed as the club's president following the sponsorship deal with Wadworth.

Kingsley is delighted that Wadworth have agreed to help his club, who have recently become affiliated to the Dorset and Wilts RFU.

He said: "I know Wadworth get a lot of requests for sponsorship, but I think they quite liked us. We said we'd become the pub side. What we'd really like is a home pitch, so that we can take the opposition back there afterwards."

Wadworth public relations officer Jonathan Pollock said: "They have a pool of about 30 players and seem very active to me.

"They start every game at the pub and finish every game there, so it is also good for trade and we like to do whatever we can to help out licensees."