Rugby Program Coming to Wrentham

The Wrentham Board of Selectmen voted 5-0 to appoint Simon Walker to the Recreation Committee, and he says he wants to bring the sport to the town.

“I want to make it a town program through the [Rec] committee,” he said.

Walker said he started a small informal program in the town, which brought him to the attention of the Rec director Jeff Plympton.

“I started at a grass roots level,” Walker said. “We’ve got a handful of five to ten year-olds showing promise… We’re playing as often as we can on Saturdays.”

Rugby is the sport on which American football is based, and though the sport has a sordid history with fans, Walker said it is actually a safer sport.

“There are far less injuries coming out of rugby than you see in football,” he said.

Walker has worked with Wrentham before serving as the treasurer in the Open Space committee and works as a freelance accountant.

Selectmen Michael Carroll asked Walker what he wants to do to improve the town of Wrentham.

“I think it will improve the quality of life for the children,” he said. “I’m offering something to the parents which I think they too would be happy with.”

Carroll said that Wrentham already has a  cricket team in practice, and should be looking for a polo team after the inclusion of rugby.

“Keep your eyes on the state school, you’ll think your in Europe,” Walker said.