At a time when grassroots sport faces growing challenges, Morpeth Rugby Club is showing how community rugby can also be a force for environmental responsibility, thanks to a partnership with Green Acres, an initiative founded by lifelong rugby fan and Stannington farmer Mike Dungait.
Mike Dungait’s connection to the club runs deep. He first pulled on a Morpeth shirt as a seven-year-old in 1981, later returning as a player, then a coach, and remaining closely involved for more than four decades. When Green Acres was formed, focusing on honest, practical approaches to sustainability rooted in farming and education, Morpeth Rugby Club was a natural place to put those ideas into action.
Green Acres works with the club to understand its environmental impact in real terms, from travel to matches through to energy use in the clubhouse and changing rooms. Rather than chasing slogans, the focus has been on balance and responsibility. Tree and hedge planting at Green Acres’ land and around the rugby club site helps offset the club’s footprint, while practical changes such as improved recycling systems, regular litter picks and more efficient waste management are embedding sustainability into the everyday life of the club.
For Mike, the work goes far beyond carbon calculations. He believes rugby clubs are uniquely placed to reconnect people with the outdoors, particularly young people. Training, matches and social time at the club mean children and adults alike are outside, active, and grounded in nature, gaining physical, mental and wellbeing benefits that are often overlooked in modern life.
The partnership has also strengthened the club’s role as a community hub. Local schools are encouraged to see the rugby club as something to look after and take pride in, with Green Acres reinforcing messages around litter, respect for shared spaces and the value of looking after the environment collectively. Initiatives such as a proposed kit swap scheme aim to reduce waste while easing the cost of sport for families, ensuring rugby remains accessible to all.
Simon Cox, who oversees sustainability at Morpeth Rugby Club, says the collaboration is about protecting the club’s long-term future. With a growing number of teams across all age groups and increasing use of the facilities, the club is exploring upgrades such
as more efficient boilers and the potential for renewable energy solutions, supported by trusted contacts introduced through Green Acres.
The strong ties between farming and rugby have also played a role, with skills from the agricultural community contributing to the upkeep of what are widely regarded as some of the best pitches in Northumberland. That quality has enabled Morpeth Rugby Club to host county matches, further cementing its place at the heart of the region’s sporting landscape.
Looking ahead, Mike hopes Morpeth’s experience can act as a blueprint for other sports clubs. Green Acres is keen to work with rugby, football and community clubs across Northumberland, helping them take achievable steps towards sustainability while strengthening participation, wellbeing and community pride.
“Rugby clubs are about more than sport,” says Mike. “They’re about people, place and belonging. If we can help them look after their environment while keeping kids active and communities connected, then we’re doing something right.”
Ends
Photo Standing : L to R
Emily Gair, Michael Dungait, Simon Cox, Cade Whitfield, Matt Haycock, Lachy Dungait (Steve Brock Photography)
Photo Scrum : L to R
Emily Gair, Michael Dungait, Cade Whitfield, Simon Cox, Matt Haycock, Lachy Dungait (Steve Brock Photography)
PR and media keitH@highlightspr.co.uk 07814 397951 ography)