WIDNES RUFC has been earmarked as a potential England Play Development Centre as rugby union rides the crest of a wave.

England's World Cup glory in Australia has given the code a higher profile than ever before - and the Heath Road club are very hopeful of benefiting.

Club secretary John Loughnane said: 'We've been put forward as a possible England Play Development Centre but are heavily reliant on our pitches being upgraded to achieve this.

'We've received a £5,000 grant from the Rugby Football Union (RFU) and need to find a further £6,300 to have the work done in May.

'If we could get donations or sponsorship to cover the balance, we could focus our efforts to further develop as a community amateur rugby club.'

Widnes's facilities, pitches apart, are way above any of their Merseyside rivals.

The Wids also boast the most successful record of any junior club in Lancashire Cup competitions and have followed the development structure put in place by the RFU after the 1991 World Cup.

The development centre would provide a link to England Rugby, via Zurich Premiership side Sale Sharks, for five years.

The likely benefits include an early link into RFU coaching and play development, visits from elite coaches and players for training and the possibility of attracting match-funding for developments such as synthetic turf and floodlights.

Mr Loughnane believes rugby union can look forward to attracting a new generation of players.

'It's a well-documented fact that playing numbers are down in the senior game, largely due to the 'lost generation' who didn't play school sport in the 1980s,' he said.

'The RFU anticipated the problem with the launch of a mini-junior rugby campaign, called Recruit or Die, on the back of the 1991 World Cup and put into place a pyramid-style development structure.

'This has been steadily growing and should really flower with the England win raising public awareness to an unprecedented level.'

No sooner had Clive Wood-ward's men lifted the World Cup than the club began to receive expressions of interest from those wishing to be the next Martin Johnson, Jonny Wilkinson or Jason Robinson.

'The day after the final, I received two e-mail enquiries about our Under-7s,' added Mr Loughnane.

'And the RFU were pretty quick off the mark with promotional material.

'I received 50 promotional posters in the post and am told the slogan Rugby Union - Give it a Try will be pushed as the victorious team does a nationwide tour next year.

'I'm not sure where we will fit into the whole thing, but we are very prominent in junior rugby and are the only local club with RFU Seal of Approval, which entitles us to incorporate the official England Rose logo on our literature.'

Ste Morris, from the club, added: 'With England winning their first ever World Cup and becoming the first country from the northern hemisphere to capture the trophy, the spotlight is firmly on the game and it is hoped that children will take the opportunity to play.

'Widnes RUFC would welcome any youngster who is interested in playing to come down and give it a go.

'The club has teams from Under-7s to Under-16s for both girls and boys and some of the best facilities in the North West of England.'

Anyone interested can contact Martin Kerr, on 0151 424 2903. He will put youngsters' parents or guardians in touch with the correct age-group coaches. Halton RUFC are also looking to expand, with the country still gripped by union fever after the World Cup final.

Club spokesman Duncan Watt said: 'The party lasted the full day, with a few hardened veterans going into Liverpool to spread the good word.

'The opportunity for any new players to come along, who may have played in the past or are looking to play after seeing England lift the Webb Ellis Cup, is there.

'The club and the committee are looking at a new development side for such players.'

Training is at the Rec on Mondays and Wednesdays at 7pm.