By Kenny Chee

MOHAMMED Dany Jumsi, 13, loves playing rugby. But, if not for a local youth rugby club's help, the Yusof Ishak Secondary schoolboy might not have been able to realise his passion.

To help underprivileged children like Dany, the Centaurs Rugby Football Club will roll out a youth programme next year, sponsoring rugby kits and coaching for 50 boys and girls aged 10 to 18 from the local community and neighbourhood schools.

It will be funded by international law firm Norton Rose for three years.

"I've met talented young men...(who have) put (rugby) aside, as they faced difficulties in even (owning) a pair of boots," said Centaurs' managing director, Mr Tim Lambert.

The programme will give such players the chance to start rugby early, he added.

To kick off the programme, Norton Rose provided funds and manpower for rugby tournaments held at the Singapore Polo Club last weekend, which featured 2,000 young players - aged five to 18 - from Asia, including Singapore.

Dany said: "(The programme) gives others like me, with few opportunities at school, (the chance) to learn and play for a club."

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