IT WAS a case of digging deep to support Basingstoke rugby club as work started on a council-funded new pitch.

Club members joined Cllr Alison Wall, Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council's Cabinet member for recreation and culture, to see work start on digging one of the first trenches.

The council has given £114,000 towards the installation of a new drainage and irrigation system for the first XV pitch and training areas at Down Grange.

The pitch improvements will support the club's vision of heightening the profile of the club.

They club have launched a Stand Up 4 'Stoke appeal, supported by The Gazette, to raise £250,000 to improve facilities, including a new grandstand at the complex.

The club has already been successful in securing £45,000 from the Rugby Football Union for floodlighting for the pitch and training areas. Like the council's ground improvements, this is separate from the appeal campaign.

Pitch development work, being carried out by Kestrel Golf and Sports Ltd, includes the installation of a pitch drainage system and fully automated irrigation system, as well as establishing a high-grade turf playing surface with increased durability and recovery time throughout the season.

Cllr Wall said: "The pitch development work, together with the floodlighting, will enable the club to increase significantly the opportunities for participation in rugby locally.

"As well as benefiting the first team, this will also provide opportunities for additional training and coaching sessions for the expanding junior teams, the academy and women's teams.

"We fully support the rugby club's vision for the future to promote rugby through a club that is at the heart of the community. I'm glad that our funding for the pitch work makes us part of the team working towards that goal."

Rugby club chairman Steve Tristram said: "I would like to thank the council for all their support and their efforts. I really appreciate it."

The pitch work will take around six weeks to complete but it is not expected that the new facilities will be ready for use until the start of the 2005-06 season.

An early initiative in the Stand Up 4 'Stoke appeal has been created by some former Sun Life of Canada employees.

Two of the best seats in the house at Madejski Stadium for a London Irish home match are on offer for sale on the web site e-bay.

The Sun Life of Canada Old Boys (SLOBS) fundraising group have available the two seats usually occupied by London Irish chairman Brendan Mullen or Reading chairman John Madejski on a football day at the stadium.

The offer, for which bidding closes today, comes through Basingstoke resident Kevin Kiernan, who is a prominent member of both rugby clubs.

On e-bay, you will find the offer under "Tickets &Travel, Sporting events, Rugby".

The unique hospitality package is for any 2004-05 London Irish Zurich Premiership home game at Madejski Stadium, Reading.

The chairman's package has been made available by London Irish and cannot be purchased elsewhere.

Included is hospitality before and after the game of your choice.