Three local companies have joined forces in a scheme with Grove Rugby Club to sponsor a part-time sports teacher at King Alfred's Community and Sports College, Wantage.

Working through the club, the coach will concentrate on rugby coaching at the college and the feeder primary schools.

The project has received matched funding from Sportsmatch, the government's financial incentive scheme to encourage the sponsorship of grass roots sport.

Rugby was withdrawn from the curriculum at King Alfred's some years ago, and the Grove club noticed a marked decrease in the number of children at secondary school age coming forward to play.

The rugby coach will provide 25 hours coaching per week and will be responsible for teaching youngsters of all ages at the school and developing close links with the club and local community.

In addition, tournaments for primary schools will be staged at the club, while teachers will be given coaching lessons to ensure that there is a supply of rugby-playing youngsters coming to King Alfred's.

Grove RFC chairman Roger Williams said: "We have a rugby club that's full of teachers, so we are very conscious that schools can't do a lot of things they want to these days."

The sponsored teacher has pulled together the local community with money coming from sponsors, the school, Sportsmatch and individuals paying £5 a month on direct debits.

Now the search is on for the person to fill the post. Adverts have been on the internet and there has been a good response from southern hemisphere.

The three companies, Corega.com, David Kerwood Construction and Grove Technology Park have committed themselves to support the scheme for three years. They will each pay £1,000 a year and their contribution is matched by Sportsmatch, with the possibility of further, though reduced, support in years two and three.

A further £5,000 has been raised from individual donations.