MALVERN Rugby Club's successful youth development section, will kick-off the 2003-04 Rugby World Cup season with its annual registration day tomorrow (Saturday) at the club's HQ based at Spring Lane in Malvern Link.

The doors of the clubhouse will be open from noon to 2.30pm, for youngsters from 6 to 17 years old to sign-up for the new rugby season and meet the youth rugby coaches and managers, who will run the age grade squads throughout the year.

Senior club officials, including the 1st XV captain Dave Irish, will also be on hand to meet the youngster ahead of Malvern's pre-season match which kicks-off at 3pm.

This autumn Malvern RFC is bracing itself for a large influx of youngsters as the hype for the 2003 Rugby World Cup begins to wind-up. And if Clive Woodward's England side can steal the coveted William Webb-Ellis Trophy away from Australia, the current world champions and tournament hosts, the Malvern club expects the interest in rugby to soar locally, with young performers striving to emulate their international heroes.

"This is a very exciting time for sports-minded youngsters in the Malvern Hills district and Malvern Rugby Club will be on-hand to provide opportunities to young performers who want to get involved in sport and recreation," said Gary Tolley, the chairman of youth rugby at Malvern RFC.

"We have drafted in new coaches, new managers and behind the scenes staff to ensure that youngsters from Malvern and Upton can enjoy playing rugby in safety and to work with local primary school teachers to further the successful evolution of tag rugby throughout the district."

In addition to their Sunday activities, the Malvern RFC youth rugby coaches will be launching a mid-week rugby development scheme to encourage 17 to 19 year olds who work weekends, back into the game. Supported by a community fund grant from Malvern Hills District Council, the details of the scheme called Time-2-Play will be announced in next week's Malvern Gazette & Ledbury Reporter.

For more details on the youth development section, call 01684 573728 or 07710494368 or e-mail malvernrugbypost@hotmail.com.