AS part of Redditch Rugby Club's 50th anniversary young people are being invited to design a playing shirt for the team to wear next season.

The club, on Bromsgrove Road, marked its 50th anniversary since its re-formation after the Second World War, last month.

To celebrate this major event, and to tie in with the Rugby World Cup, the club is looking for local schools and colleges to compete for the best designed shirt.

The shirts will be worn throughout next season by each team, starting with the club's 50th anniversary game on April 30 next year.

Craig Martin, from the club, said: "Long standing member and ex-player Lee Williams gave me the idea of getting the community and the schools involved with our celebrations.

"The idea is to build awareness in rugby around Redditch while the world cup is on and also generate interest in the junior sections at the club. Having now got the Rugby Football Union (RFU), Worcester Warriors, and HOW College involved we have been able to create a fantastic competition for pupils and students to enter and we look forward to selecting a winner and playing in our new shirts next season."

The competition has been split into two different age groups.

Group one will be open for pupils from Year 4 to Year 8 and they will be given the opportunity to create two separate designs for the clubs's development and exiles teams.

Group two will be from Year 9 through to college students and they will be designing the club's first team shirt.

Winners will receive a framed copy of their design, as well as a shirt and signed rugby balls, and an invitation to the anniversary game in April.

The closing date for entries is October 30.