College Old Boys spruce up ladies restrooms to a more acceptable standard

Levin College Old Boys RFC will put the $10,000 worth of Bunnings materials to upgrade women's bathroom facilities.

Levin College Old Boys RFC has been given $10,000 worth of Bunnings building materials which it will use to upgrade its women's bathroom and wheelchair access to restroom facilities.

The support package was launched this year as part of Bunnings Warehouse's partnership with New Zealand Rugby, with the successful clubs receiving a share of $300,000 worth of Bunnings Warehouse products and materials to put towards improving their facilities.

A third of rugby clubs throughout New Zealand had applied. Clubs selected received either $30,000 and $10,000 worth of products and materials. Five clubs got $30,000 and 15 got $10,000.

Levin COB president Paula Mahuinga said the club was cognisant of being whānau-friendly and of the growing popularity of women's rugby, too.

Levin College Old Boys Rugby Club president Paula Mahuinga.

Mahuinga said the club would use the $10,000 to upgrade the women's toilets, make a restroom area where mothers could change young babies in private, and also install wheelchair access to bathroom facilities.

"They just weren't up to standard you could be happy with and with women's rugby growing and with our club wanting it to be an environment for the whole family we decided to apply for a grant to help us achieve these goals," he said.

He said perhaps the women's area might have been slightly overlooked in the past as rugby clubs had traditionally been male-dominated. But that was rapidly changing.

Levin College Old Boys RFC will put the $10,000 worth of Bunnings materials to upgrade women's bathroom facilities.

"It's all about being whānau-orientated," he said.

Money would go towards improved wheelchair access, too, as currently anyone with a disability had to go out the door and around the corner to another facility.

Mahuinga said the club hoped to have the new work completed in time for its 75th jubilee year next year.

Levin College Old Boys Rugby Football Club president Paula Mahuinga.

It was now working with Bunnings to finalise the materials list and would lean on tradespeople within the club to provide the labour for free.

"We're lucky enough there are people in the club willing to do it," he said.