Mansfield industrial supplies firm Hall-Fast has given its support to Nottingham Rugby’s Academy by sponsoring the back of the team shirts.

The academy has been set up to support the further development of talented players aged 16–20 years within Notts Lincs and Derby (NLD) regions.

Players from clubs in Leicestershire and Staffordshire are also taking part.

Hall-Fast has been a key community partner of the club for the past five season, developing a partnership that sees Nottingham Rugby deliver sessions to youngsters in primary and secondary schools in and around Mansfield and Ashfield, and also at Mansfield’s Fountaindale SEN School.

The roll out of the now multi-award winning Little Ruggers programme in 2015 resulted in youngsters aged from two to five get involved in the sport.

Hall-Fast founder and managing director Malcolm Hall said: “Hall-Fast and Nottingham Rugby have had a successful partnership. Our North Nottinghamshire Community Partnership and Little Rugger programmes will be expanded further with us already agreeing to extend this association by a further five years.

“It made sense for us to also support the fantastic work that the academy is doing to develop future rugby stars.