Rugby clubhouse damaged by flooding set to reopen

A rugby club affected by major flooding is to reopen its clubhouse this weekend following a refurbishment.

Northampton BBOB RFC's premises at St Andrew's Road were severely damaged by the effects of Storm Bert in November 2024.

The clubhouse interior, including its storage areas and garages, were destroyed, meaning it could not be used.

Phil Dowson, the former Northampton Saints player and current director of the club, will officially open the refurbished building on Friday.

Northampton BBOB coach, Paul Diggin, who is also a former Saints player, said "a full strip out, back to bare bones" of the club building was carried out.

"In all essence, it's a brand-new internal structure," he added.

Mr Diggin said the refurbishment led to a whole range of discoveries about the building with "missing walls and doors covered over".

The clubhouse now has a new kitchen, players' dining room, physio facilities, offices and toilets.

"We are now officially 2025 as opposed to [a building from] 1935," he said.

Northampton Saints and other nearby clubs, such as Daventry, as well as local scout groups, helped by offering kit and training facilities, as the flooding took place mid-season.

"We were at a point where, if we didn't have anything like that, the club could have folded," Mr Diggin said.

"That would have been disastrous for our club in what is coming up to our centenary year in the next few years. Keeping that together was the main emphasis."

Mr Diggin praised those who helped, including the committee, players, parents and volunteers.

The club has many teams under its umbrella, including women's, youth, children's, and senior's sides.

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