UNIVERSITY of Essex's new link-up with England Rugby is a reflection of the positive reputation they have for sport.

That is the view of the university's Director of Sport Dave Parry, who says the Rugby Football Union (RFU) decision to choose the venue as one of its strategic university partners is an endorsement of the hard work they have put in.

The University of Essex is one of just 15 universities to be chosen to be part of the England Rugby partnership, which will plough £220,000 into strengthening university rugby across the country over the next three years.

It will be one of six universities to receive funding focused towards Rugby Sevens – one of the University’s three high-performance sports alongside basketball and volleyball.

Parry said: “The exciting announcement that Essex has been selected as an England Rugby partner represents a tremendous endorsement of the hard work that is taking place to develop Rugby Union at the University.

"Staff across Essex Sport, including from the Sports Centre and the Students’ Union, as well as committee members from the student Rugby Union women’s and men’s clubs have all contributed to this outcome, which has come about following a selection process involving a series of presentations, interviews and meetings with England Rugby at Twickenham.

“We have been awarded £7,500 per year to develop participation in the 15-a-side Rugby Union game, as well as to increase participation in Rugby Sevens.

"We are one of just six universities to receive funding towards Rugby Sevens, a sport which made its Olympic Games debut in Rio this year, and this follows on from our decision to launch sevens as our third high-performance sport last year.

“We will be focusing on a programme of intra-mural rugby union, as well as launching a weekly ‘touch’ rugby session, which is the most accessible form of the game and which will be open to anyone to attend.

"In addition, we will be staging two Rugby Sevens festivals in March next year, where will be attracting school, university and local clubs sides to compete at the University.

“Particularly pleasing is to be chosen by England Rugby as one of only 15 partner Universities.

"Essex is not regarded as being one of the traditional university homes for rugby, so, the announcement signifies our increasingly positive reputation for sport among governing bodies and the wider public.”

Since last year, the RFU has worked in a close partnership with the Students RFU (SRFU) and British Universities and Colleges Sport (BUCS) to develop and deliver university partnerships.

Universities have been bidding competitively to be part of this latest national programme, with University of Essex being successful.

RFU Head of Education and Development Mark Saltmarsh said: “The 15 selected partner institutions will be leading examples of universities who will provide a high level of commitment and a quality standard of rugby that will help enhance the experience for players of all abilities.

"Their commitment to this concept has been excellent and we can’t wait to get started with them.

"Our aim is that the new partnerships provide fantastic playing opportunities for students of all levels and abilities and further grow the game in the sector and the numbers of players continuing to play in rugby clubs when they leave.”