Wooden Spoon Shropshire Chairman, Glyn Dobbs, was approached to see if Spoon could help in anyway and following an initial meeting attended by Judith Phelps, Chair of Telford Hornets RFC, Jai Purewal, Development Director for Wooden Spoon Community Projects, Val and Glyn it was decided that Spoon Shropshire would support the Rebels with a £5000 grant over 3 years. Funding would be provided to ensure facilities and coaches were always available and that the club members would be able to continue playing the sport they love.

A year later Wooden Spoon has been back to see how the Rebels are getting on.

Shropshire Rebels Chairperson Val Edgely said,

"Thanks to Spoon the Rebels are still here providing for a growing number of participants. It's great also to see that through the Telford Hornets RFC we are also growing our pool of tag rugby coaches with players from the main club becoming qualified to help us out. We are very grateful to Spoon and the Hornets for their continued support."

Judith Phelps, Chair of Telford Hornets RFC added,

"The Hornets are proud to be working with Wooden Spoon to support the Rebels. This is a classic example of the wider rugby community coming together to support our own. It's great that some of our guys are seeing the value in volunteering with the Rebels. I know they get lots out of it and it's good fun."

A year into Spoon's 3 year commitment, participation numbers have risen by around a third with a number of the Rebels participating in the National Tag Rugby competition in Bristol in May.

"We are delighted with the progress and congratulate the hard work of all those parents, players, coaches and supporters involved. Later this summer we will again see the Rebels take part in the summer touch competition at the Hornets, a mixed ability competition, and looking even further afield the Rebels and Hornets RFC will be hosting the National Tag Rugby competition in 2015- Rugby World Cup year," said Glyn Dobbs.

We wish everyone involved with the Rebels all the very best for the coming year and look forward to hearing of their growing success in the months to come.