Rugby: Club reveals plans for new ground to locals

Aug 3 2012 by Donald Morton, Stirling Observer Friday

McLAREN Rugby Club is holding information evenings at Callander Youth Project to explain its proposed pitch project at Callander Primary School.

For the last five years the club has been playing most of its home games at Dunblane High School, 13 miles away, due to the poor condition of its home pitch at McLaren High School.

It wants to develop a full-size rugby pitch with a separate training area but that cannot be done at the high school because of the possible development of a 3G synthetic pitch there.

Secretary Drew Leslie said: “The club view this option as the most sustainable step forward for the short and long term for rugby in Callander.

“The current use of the Callander Primary School playing field will not be changed, in that it will still be accessible to the community as a condition of the funders and used by the primary school as present.

“The investment is directed towards levelling and draining the school playing field, and enhancing the playing surface. This investment will thereafter support greater recreational and sports use by both the primary school and community.”

The first of the information evenings is on Monday from 7-9pm. There will be another on August 23.

McLaren has been awarded funding by Sportscotland and the SRU, with the project being taken forward with Callander Primary School and Stirling Council.