RUGBY LEAGUE: THIS WEEKEND’s international Four Nations Tournament at the Ricoh Arena is being seen as the perfect opportunity to attract more people into the sport by the owner and managing director of local side Coventry Bears.
The league one club hope to benefit when Australia take on New Zealand and England meet Scotland in an international rugby league double-header on Saturday.
“It will be a historic first to have two games of such magnitude being held in Coventry,” said Robinson. “It will be great to see that as a city we are able to hold these events and embrace all different types of sport.
“The games will be a real milestone for the sport in the city and help us build on our own success and the steady year-on-year progress we are making.
“It will show people that there is a pathway to play rugby league and we will be running some skills and drills in the fan-zone with information on our new season membership and how people can get involved in our community programmes.”
The Bears were formed 18 years ago by Robinson and in 2015 they turned into the only professional club in the Midlands.
After starting life at Coventry Rugby Club’s former Coundon Road ground with just one team, the Bears now has multiple sides and its own community initiative ‘Bears in the Community’, which is involved with dozens of local schools and community projects.
They are also involved in an initiative alongside Coventry Rugby and Wasps to make Coventry a ‘City of Rugby by 2023, something Robinson feels will be boosted by hosting this Saturday’s double header.
“This international event should definitely help with creating a legacy and it will be huge in raising the profile of the city initiative as the City of Rugby – something that we are really looking to push on with,” he added.
“The Ricoh Arena is a great venue for the day, it is accessible and hosting it in an arena of that size will show the potential of how big the sport can be.
“After the Four Nations Rugby League in the city is only going to get better.”
Tickets for the games at the Ricoh Arena start from £20, find out more and book at www.rugby-league.com/tickets.
