Another positive step for Grangemouth Stags as gym facilities reopen

Grangemouth Stags Rugby Club president Alan McKenzie

In line with Scottish Government guidelines, gyms across the country were permitted to reopen on Monday, April 26, and Stags were well prepared for the day with slots booked up in advance.

The reopening of the facilities, membership of which is available to both rugby players and the general public, not only allows for a return to physical activity but for team members to meet face to face, in small groups, many for the first time in months.

Stags president Alan McKenzie told the Herald it was another positive step in the right direction.

In line with government guidance, the club were able to reopen their gym on Monday, April 26

He said: “I’m absolutely delighted to be getting guys back in.

"We had a reasonable amount of usage and it's just about getting them back involved and using the equipment again.

"It's another step in the right direction to getting back to normality.

"We're trying to keep it down to a maximum of eight people at any one time, staggered so that only four people arrive in 15 minute intervals to avoid overlapping.

A group of first team players booked their slot early to get back in the gym on the first day of reopening

"The guys were delighted to be back in the gym doing work and to start seeing their teammates again because they've obviously not been mixing in the past few months.

"That creates a positive atmosphere around the club, this is the start now and we will keep building on it over the next few weeks."

Another crucial aspect of the gym reopening is that the club have been able to unfreeze membership fees, once again generating cashflow.

However, the biggest positive remains the gradual return of normality which will take another step in a few weeks time as the senior players return to touch rugby training.

"The Minis and Kelpies are back and the senior players can return to playing touch rugby on May 17,” said McKenzie.

"The information we are getting from the SRU suggests we could start playing again in September so we will have fun for a month or so then can hopefully build into some more serious stuff.”

Stags are accepting new gym memberships and details on that can be found on their official website .