Teenage rugby union players from West Yorkshire have been on a tour of a lifetime to Italy, supported by a kit sponsorship deal agreed by Lanes Group.
The company funded the tour kit worn by 28 players from Aireborough RUFC’s under 16s squad on the four-day trip to Parma, Northern Italy.
Parents and coaches also went on the tour, which included a training session at professional rugby club Zebre and matches against local club teams Lyons and Colorno.
Aireborough RUFC’s Under 16s Head Coach, Rob Rattray, said: “We’re grateful to Lanes Group for its support for a tour that provided valuable life learning experiences for our players.
“We share the same values Lanes Group in that we nurture the individual so they get the most out of their sporting experience and can contribute with confidence to a team performance.
“Our tour allowed these outstanding young men to visit a fantastic Italian city, share our values with other clubs and learn more about the culture of a different country and its communities.
“The hospitality of our Italian hosts was incredible, and the highlight for me was seeing 60 players from Aireborough and Colorno playing an impromptu game of touch rugby after their match, proving language is no barrier when we share the same passion for sport.
“It’s fantastic that Lanes Group supports community sport, and the physical and mental wellbeing it provides for young people. If our players finish their time with us happier, healthier and more successful in education and work, it has been time and effort well spent.”
Lanes Group Business Development Director Colin Mackay said: “We were pleased to be able to support such a worthwhile endeavour. The players, their parents, and the club had already worked incredibly hard to organise and fund the trip, so it was a privilege to lend our support.”
Aireborough RUFC is based in Yeadon, just north of Leeds, a city where Lanes Group has HQ offices and an operational depot.
The son of Jenna Hawkswell, Head of Lanes Group Payroll Services, went on the tour. “I’m so glad Lanes Group could support the trip, because it was an experience the boys learned a huge amount from,” said Jenna.
“We spent months fundraising in the community so everyone who wanted to could go, and the experience they had was even better than we had imagined it would be.
“The Aireborough club players and the Italian teams they played against very much enjoyed the matches, and the rapport and respect they shared was fantastic to see.
“Shirts were swapped after the second match, so there are now young Italian players who will, we hope, be wearing the Lanes Group logo with pride for some time to come!”