Hamilton Rugby Club Under-15s receive new kit thanks to sponsorship by COFELY.

Feb 25 2010 by Andrew McGilvray, Hamilton Advertiser

HAMILTON Rugby Club’s Under-15 side received a major boost this week when they were handed a sponsorship deal.

The young team, in their first season of league rugby, are the first in Hamilton’s youth section to be kitted out in the club’s new Puma playing kit thanks to backing from leading environment and energy services company COFELY.

Hamilton Under-15 coach and COFELY regional director Jim Thompson said: “COFELY, as part of the GDF-Suez Group, is a Europe-wide company that recognises the importance of sport as part of a young person’s development, and encourage their employees to support local organisations that encourage youngsters’ participation in sport.

“Last year the company introduced its ‘Kit for Kids’ programme, where each of the 23 regional offices in the UK and Ireland nominated a team to receive kit or their chosen sport.

“This resulted in 23 teams across the British Isles, covering the sports of football, cricket and rugby, being provided with new kit, and Hamilton Under-15 side were one of these.

“While the kit alone won’t build a team, it certainly gave the boys a boost, helping to boost confidence as they moved up to full 15-a-side rugby.

“The boys are delighted, especially since the kit is the same the first XV’s.”

Hamilton senior vice-president Jack Ryan commented: “We are grateful to Jim and COFELY for their support, the timing of which was such that we were able to provide the youngsters with the latest designs and materials in high quality kit from Puma.”

Hamilton were the second rugby club in Scotland to sign up with Genesis Sports, the Puma licensee for Pro Teamsports in the UK and Ireland, and are coming to the end of the first year of a three-year contract.