The Courier’s latest competition was always likely to cause a scrum, but few groups will be “try-ing” harder to win a minibus than Howe of Fife rugby club.
Cross-country car journeys could be a thing of the past for the parents of hundreds of young players if the club gets the keys in our latest giveaway.
With dozens of teams turning out every week, one of the biggest drains on the club’s resources is transport costs.
The hiring of buses often requires youngsters to go cap in hand to their parents for a few pounds, while 11th-hour Facebook messages are regularly posted in a bid to secure drivers willing to transport players all over Scotland.
It is an issue that club secretary Alison Murray knows all too well.* Howe of Fife Rugby Club has registered to take part in the competition. Have you? Visit www.thecourier.co.uk/minibusShe said: “My son has retired from playing now, but I can recall him coming up to me and asking for £7 to pay for the minibus.
“We have a lot of people playing for us who live in rural areas and transport can often be an issue for us.
“We have kids playing for us from all over Tayport, St Andrews, Auchtermuchty, Newport and we often have to sort out transport.
“Some of the games we play can be as far away as Inverness and organising that can be a logistical nightmare.”
As well as men’s, women’s and a “veterans” team, Howe of Fife currently has over 250 youngsters on its books.
While a minibus could transform the way in which the rugby club operates, Alison said that the wider community could also benefit should they triumph in The Courier’s competition.
“Other local groups could use it when it was not in service,” she continued.
“If we weren’t using it then I don’t see why anybody else could not use it, so we could help them as well.
“It would be amazing if we won.”