SOUTHEND Rugby Club have announced a new sponsorship deal with InsureandGo which will mean those aged under 16 can watch their home games for free.

InsureandGo will be backing certain youth and community projects involving the Seasiders.

And the club’s marketing director Nathan Strange is delighted to have welcomed the travel insurance firm to Warners Bridge.

“It’s great to have a well established company like InsureandGo on board,” said Strange.

“As well as having a fantastic national reputation, they are based locally and will be a real asset to the club.”

On top of sponsoring the kids go free campaign, InsureandGo are also backing Southend’s schools coaching programme.

That sees the club sending coaches into 49 local schools to teach and coach rugby and introduce rugby to schools that may not be teaching it already.

And Perry Wilson, the founder of InsureandGo, was only too pleased to get involved.

“As a company we are proud to be based in Southend and support the local community however we can,” said Wilson.

“Hopefully by sponsoring Southend Rugby Football Club we can raise the profile of the sport in the area and get more youngsters involved in the game.”

InsureandGo, who are based in Maitland House, Southend, was established in 2000 and have grown rapidly to become the UK’s largest direct travel insurance specialist.

They now insure more than two million travellers every year and are also the main club sponsors of Southend United.

Southend Rugby Club’s next home game is this Saturday against Cinderford.

The game kicks off at 3pm and is the first match children under 16 will not be charged to watch.

l SOUTHEND crashed out of the National Trophy at the fourth round stage on Sunday losing 24-0 at National One side Cornish Pirates.

But the club’s director or rugby Ben Green was encouraged by his team’s performance.

“The lads did really well and were applauded off by their fans at the end of the game,” said Green.

“Cornish Pirates are a full-time, professional club and there is a big difference between the clubs.

“We gave it a real go but in the end their extra strength and fitness played a part and they scored 12 points in the final five minutes.

“The attitude was spot on and it was a good game for morale ahead of going back into the league this weekend.”