A full refurbishment of the changing room facilities at Malvern Rugby Football Club is set to be completed this week.
The plans at the Spring Lane site involved a full refurbishment of the club’s changing rooms, including women’s facilities, to ensure a more inclusive and fit-for-purpose environment.
The project has been made possible through an investment of more than £300k from Malvern Hills District Council (MHDC), which forms part of the council’s Community Infrastructure Investment Plan, adopted in March 2025.
As well as this, the club received funding from the Rugby Football Union, as part of the ‘Impact 25’ programme, inspired by the Women’s Rugby World Cup.
The grant from MHDC also supported the installation of green energy technology, including Solar PV panels with battery storage and air source heat pumps. The floodlights will also be upgraded with LED units and the inefficient kitchen appliances, such as the stove and ovens, will be replaced.
To help celebrate the project, the club is holding a Changing Room Grand Opening Event on Friday, 22 August, ahead of the first game of the Women’s Rugby World Cup.
The event will include women and girls’ taster sessions, matches, face painting, BBQ, games, and more.
Andy Longley, Chairman of Malvern Rugby Football Club, said: "This is a project that will enable all our members- boys and girls, men and women- to enjoy first class facilities, as well as offering a great provision for the community. We’ve now got four fantastic changing rooms which are now energy efficient, so it’s great for our carbon footprint and our energy bills as well.”
Cllr Jennie Watkins, Portfolio Holder for Communities and Housing at MHDC, said: “It is great to see that the grant has helped to support the development of women’s and girls’ rugby throughout the club, whilst also ensuring the changing rooms are fully inclusive”.
For more information on the changing room event visit the club’s website www.malvernrfc.rfu.club or Facebook page.
Pictured L-R: Cllr Fran Victory (Ward Member for Malvern Link), Andrew Longley (Chairman at Malvern Rugby Football Club), Joe Wilks (Vice Chairman at Malvern Rugby Football Club), Cllr Kwai Hung Chan (Ward Member for Malvern Link), Stuart Clark (Main Contractor at CCM), Olivia Giggle (Women and Girls Committee Lead), Tamsin Clixby (Women and Girls Committee Walking Rugby Rep), and Jess Longley (Women and Girls Committee Secretary).
Date published: 20 August 2025