Rugby club set to reopen after key refurbishment

Reading Rugby Club said its existence was at risk without fundraising earlier this year

A rugby club that feared for its future earlier this year after asbestos was found in its clubhouse's roof has completed improvements and is set to reopen.

Reading Rugby Club in Sonning, Berkshire, said it had to raise the money for works in the spring and will officially reopen on Saturday.

Some of about £450,000 raised came from donations, a loan from the Rugby Football Union (RFU) and a partnership with the Reading Blue Coat School.

The club's chairman John Kelly said it now has a new, asbestos-free roof and a "much lighter, brighter, warm and airy clubhouse room" that can be used by its members and its community.

Other work included installing a solar power system and improved facilities for women and girls, who were previously poorly served.

"For our female players, it means a return to dignity," Dr Kelly said.

"When they get changed they can get changed in a changing room environment, rather than having to traverse the building and be second class citizens in their own clubhouse.

"For the community it means that there's a renewed space that can serve high quality food and meeting facilities for the various groups that we've hosted before and hopefully new groups as well."