Dandara is delighted to announce its sponsorship of Vagabonds Rugby Club’s youth teams this season.

As the club celebrates its 50th anniversary, this will be the first year the whole youth section will have the same sponsor. All the youth players will wear the new Dandara-sponsored ‘old school’ style Vagabonds kit, which will help mark the significant milestone in the club’s history. The support package will also cover the cost of new equipment, some of which will be used to start-up the island’s first under 4 rugby sessions – Vagatots.

Vagabonds youth players are coached on Sunday afternoons between 1.45pm and 3.15pm at the Ballafletcher playing fields. The various age groups take part in tournaments, which are held at the individual rugby clubs around the Island. Vagabonds will be hosting the next fixtures on Sunday 7th February for all age groups to which parents and other family members will be encouraged to enjoy the clubhouse facilities and food stalls, including a bake sale.

Dandara marketing director, Joanna Orton, commented: ‘We’re absolutely delighted to be supporting the Vagabond’s Rugby Club youth teams this season and have been very impressed by how enthusiastic and committed the coaches and club officials are, all of whom are volunteers. Sport is so important to our community and we hope that more and more young people join the club in order to appreciate the value of learning new skills and being part of a team.’

Vagabond’s Chairman, Gordon Leece, said: ‘We’re grateful to Dandara for supporting our youth section this year, particularly as this season marks a very special anniversary for us. The club was formed in 1965 as Douglas High School Old Boys but, because it had no home ground or official kit, the name ‘Vagabonds’ was adopted. We now have two men’s teams and one ladies’ team as well as a flourishing youth section based at our clubhouse at Ballafletcher, which we moved to in 2011.

‘On Saturday, the men and ladies had matches at home while the youth players were training; for the first time ever, they were all wearing matching kit and it was a very proud moment for everyone involved with the club.’

Anyone interested in joining Vagabonds youth rugby section should email head youth coach Gail Smalley - vagabondsyouth@gmail.com. 

Photo - Dandara Marketing Director, Jo Orton (back row, centre); Vagabonds’ Chairman, Gordon Leece (right) and Club President, Chris Taggart (left) with some youth team players.