Sarrie’s RFC

Alan Day Volkswagen have teamed up with the Saracens Sports Foundation and formed a group of people to help youngsters with disabilities.

The teenagers, aged between 15 and 17 suffer from autism, and train for two hours a week at the Aviva Premiership champions club’s ground, Allianz Park in Hendon.

Alan Day’s managing director Paul Tanner and several of his staff members give up their time to assists with the training sessions which are run by the Saracens Sports Foundation.

The touch- rugby sessions are overseen by Tomas Gamage, the Saracens Sport Development Officer and also attended by some first team stars.

Gamage said: "Sarrie’s RFC is a tag rugby programme for young people with disabilities. We focus on the ability of our members and not the disability. We look to focus not only on developing the members tag rugby skills but also to focus on improving their social skills as this is what they may struggle with due to their disability."

He added:" We are really pleased to work with Alan Day Volkswagen as this partnership will not only help and support us to develop Sarrie’s RFC but their staff members actively engage by volunteering on a Monday night. Alan Day supply the main club and the Sarrie’s RFC programme with a range of vehicles. MD Paul Tanner said: "Alan Day are really proud to be the main sponsors of Sarrie’s RFC, we’ve got a fantastic group of boys.

"Originally we were looking at ways we could help out with the foundation and the guys said to us why don’t you come and volunteer, so myself and two other managers got involved and it’s grown from there.

"The guys that work with me say that it’s two of the best hours they spend each week and for me personally it’s really rewarding.

"I’ve seen the boys grow in the time that I’ve been coming. As Tom said, it really is fantastic. "To see the Sarrie’s boys in training click on.

Saracens Flanker Will Frazer said: "I’ve come down to help out with coaching the kids and to get involved with their touch games and their tackle bag drills.

It’s been really good, they do an amazing job down here every Monday night it’s incredible for the kids to get the opportunity and also good for the parents to have an evening just relaxing and be part of something quite special."

"It shows what a good initiative it is the fact that not only Alan Day want to sponsor it but they want to get involved as well. It shows how important it is and actually what a difference it can make to the families that are a part of it so it’s great from Alan Day and great work from every volunteer that’s involved."