A NEW project has been launched by Sale Sharks to get more girls into rugby and encourage disabled or elderly people to be more active in Wirral.

DONG Energy, which operates the Burbo Bank Extension wind farm off the coast of the Wirral, has provided the grant of more than £10,000 to fund the 12-month project along with Sale Sharks.

Coaches from the award-winning Sale Sharks Community Trust will kick off 28 weeks of sessions designed to encourage girls to play the game with a special event at Oldershaw RUFC, in Wallasey.

At the same time coaches will also be delivering 28 weeks of inclusive tag rugby and walking rugby at Birkenhead Park RUFC aimed at encouraging non-traditional rugby playing groups to join the club and get involved.

Sale Sharks inclusion officer Vicky Irwin said: “We’re incredibly grateful to DONG Energy and its partners for the support and funding they’ve provided to deliver this fantastic project.

“The Women’s Rugby World Cup has just finished and we saw how popular that was and how it inspired girls to pick up a rugby ball.

"Now we want to make sure we provide opportunities to capitalise on that by giving as many girls as possible the chance to get involved in the game.

“We also know how powerful rugby can be in terms of helping to combat social isolation, which is a real issue for elderly and disabled people.

"This work can make a really positive impact on people’s lives in Wirral and we’re excited to get this project underway.”

Natasha Nanuck, a Stakeholder Advisor from DONG Energy, said: “We’re absolutely committed to being part of the communities where we operate, like Wirral, and so I’m delighted to see funds from the Burbo Bank Extension Community Fund going to such a worthwhile local project.

“Our presence in the North West is something we’re very proud of and the reason we set up this fund is to help make a difference locally.

“Getting more people in the area to be active through rugby is a great initiative and one that we’re very happy to be supporting.”