A CUMBRIAN rugby union club are hoping to raise £1.5m as part of a ‘big build’, which will see major improvements to the current facilities.

Keswick Rugby Club are hoping to raise the funds, which will see the club house and Davidson Park undertake a major upgrade.

A third of the funds needed have already been raised through various fundraising schemes over the last decade, with the club now starting a huge fundraising drive to secure the final funding to start the project.

A 24-hour rugby match, which will take part this weekend, will kickstart the first fundraising initiative to get funds for the project over the line.

Keswick Rugby Club committee member Carrick Wharmby, told the News and Star: “It’s been on people’s mind since the floods of 1982 and with the more recent floods everything has moved forward a bit faster.

“Many volunteer hours have been spent returning the club to it’s current running state in order for community rugby in Keswick to continue.”

In recent years the club has grown significantly with a successful women’s team now being an integral part of the club, and junior as well as senior men’s teams continuing to thrive in Keswick.

Carrick said: “With the ongoing growth of senior rugby and the hundreds of juniors who take part each week, Keswick as a club and a town is enjoying a great success through sport.”

The plans drawn up by the club have four-main goals for their new ‘big build’: to stay dry, to be able to seat 150 people (catering for junior, female and male teams) to have six changing rooms and to upgrade.

Plans around the new build will see the current clubhouse demolished and a new elevated club house built in its place.

The club have chosen to create the elevated building after recent flooding has greatly affected the current rugby club building in recent years.

Plans will also include a small function room, gym and an elevated terrace taking in 'some of the best views the lakes has to offer'.

To find out more about the project you can visit keswickrugby.com .