Champions Wellington in £14,000 loss

CHAMPIONSHIP-winning Wellington Rugby Club made a working loss of £14,000 over the past year, it will be reported at the Somerset club's annual meeting on Friday (July 30).

The deficit can be attributed to the club's big building programme on the ground - it opened its new stand and changing rooms last September - and to pumping more money into the playing side. This included the appointment of ex-England second row Dave Sims as coach last summer which has proved a big success. Wellington won the Cornwall and Devon League title with a 100 per cent record and also the Somerset Two South championship. It means both sides will be playing in a higher standard of rugby next season. The club, however, are naturally concerned over the loss and will be looking at ways of increasing revenue this winter. They are holding a Sportsman's Evening in September with former British, England and Bath star Gareth Chilcott being the main speaker. Tickets for this event, to be held in the clubhouse, were sold out in seven days.