School to host Warwickshire cricket cup games

Warwickshire has chosen Rugby School as the outground for three summer matches taking professional cricket into the community for the first time in almost a decade.

The matches will be played at the School with Warwickshire commenting that the facilities are ‘superb and, importantly, the pitch and outfield will be at a standard required for professional cricket.’

Matches will be The Metro Bank One Day Cup games against Surrey (2 August), Yorkshire (11 August) and Nottinghamshire (14 August).

Rugby School has hosted Warwickshire previously but not since 2015 when the Bears won a One Day Cup clash against Sussex.

The ground has a 3,000-capacity for what organisers intend to be a community festival of cricket to welcome the Bears on tour.

The Club also wants to use the partnership to create a cricketing legacy in the town and inspire the next generation of players through free coaching sessions at leisure and youth centres delivered through the junior All Stars scheme.

Rugby School currently has students, girls and boys, playing for national teams including England and Scotland.

Rugby School Head Master Gareth Parker-Jones, said: “We are delighted to be partnered with Warwickshire and excited to host these three matches.

“Cricket has been played on this same ground since the early 1800s and our Director of Cricket, Michael Powell, enjoyed a career spanning more than 17 years with Warwickshire, representing the county in more than 290 matches.

“It’s great for the local community to have top level cricket on their doorstep while also bringing visitors from further afield to help boost the town’s economy – a real win-win!’

Warwickshire Performance Director Gavin Larsen, added: “We love playing at Edgbaston, obviously, but this is an amazing opportunity to take the Bears closer to Members and supporters in Warwickshire.

“I was at Neath last season to watch the Bears take on Glamorgan and the vibe at the game was tremendous. I’m sure the fans and local community will create an equally great atmosphere at Rugby. It’s school summer holidays so hopefully there will be lots of junior Bears there to cheer the guys on.

“The facilities at Rugby School are superb and, importantly, the pitch and outfield will be at a standard required for professional cricket.”