Rugby players in Teignmouth will start next season with state-of-the-art changing rooms thanks to a major construction project which is taking place over the summer.

Due to be completed on August 29, the refurbished changing rooms will provide fully inclusive facilities and cater for the club’s continued growth.

‘The new facilities will future-proof the club,’ said Teignmouth Rugby Club president Andy Crossman. Built in 1992, the existing changing room block ‘was no longer fit for purpose’, he explained.

With only four changing rooms, one set of open showers and limited toilets, there were safeguarding concerns. It was difficult to host mixed age group fixtures or double-headers featuring the men and the women’s teams due to there just being one set of open showers and one shared corridor to all the changing spaces.

‘The club has grown over the last 30 years. In addition to the senior men’s teams, there is a ladies team, girls teams and a huge junior section,’ Andy added.

The upgraded changing rooms will consist of self-contained changing rooms with separate entrances and en-suite shower and toilets. There will also be an accessible changing room catering for people with additional physical and emotional requirements.

Referees will benefit from their own space, leading directly onto the pitch.

The project has been partly funded by the Rugby Football Union (RFU) Women’s World Cup 2025 legacy due to Teignmouth’s investment into the women’s game.

Additional grants, sponsorship, donations and club fundraising have contributed to the costs.

‘We’ve launched a ‘Buy a Brick’ scheme and we’re offering various sponsorship opportunities, such as naming rights for each of the changing rooms,’ explained Teignmouth Rugby Club development manager Toni Gover.

The club is also benefiting from tradespeople donating their time to contribute to the construction.

Despite the construction work taking place on the changing rooms and additional pitch upgrades, the clubhouse will remains open throughout the summer offering its popular food, bar and events.