WOULD-BE Jonny Wilkinsons are set to benefit from a £7,500 cash boost to Southampton Rugby Club.

It will help the club, which is running several free sessions a week as part of the SO16 festival, fund its growing youth section and provide more chances for youngsters around Millbrook to get involved.

Since receiving an Outer Shirley Regeneration award of £38,400 last year to employ a rugby development officer, the youth section has grown from no members to more than 180.

This latest boost from the Shirley Regeneration Board will help continue that growth.

More than 100 children turn out every Sunday for the coaching sessions and recently Millbrook's Test Park won a grant to install female showers and changing facilities, so more girls could play rugby.

The project has even attracted national interest, and youth worker Rob Memory has been asked to visit Twickenham to help staff there try to recreate the model across the country. Rob said: "As well as building fitness levels and raising aspirations among young people, the youth rugby club can also help engage youngsters previously involved with crime."

The former Winchester prop forward has started up scores of rugby projects around the city, in schools, park and communities.

He says his goal in life is getting people to play rugby and he's passionate about boosting youngters' contact with the sport. "It's great to see what is being done by the volunteers, the players and the schools," he added.

For more information contact Rob at Southampton Rugby Club, in Lower Brownhill Way, on 023 8073 7777.