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Taunton Titans playing RFU Championship rugby was the ambitious target unveiled by Taunton Rugby Football Club at a celebratory luncheon on Saturday at Hyde Park.

Mayor Steve Brooks, Taunton Deane MP Jeremy Browne and over 250 guests representing Taunton’s business and public sectors were in attendance to see a video presentation of the club’s ambitious initiative, titled ‘Dare To Dream’.

Marketing & Communications Manager Colin Bentley presented the audience with an invitation and a challenge. The invitation, to join with Taunton RFC in striving for a goal to benefit youth, sport, community, and business in the region; the challenge, a collaborative initiative to build the Taunton Titans, a re-branded 1st XV team able to compete at RFU Championship level.

Recent news that Sky television and The RFU have confirmed a five year deal to platform and promote the RFU Championship as the nations second tier of elite level rugby is the motivation. With each RFU Championship club now to be paid £330,000 a year from the TV pot and central funding guarantees, the financial incentive is clear.

Bentley outlined the benefits top-level sport brings to a community in media coverage and the focus of a national audience on the teams, the people and the communities of the competing towns. He said, “London 2012 will platform Great Britain to an audience of billions in a worldwide marketplace.

“Taunton will never stage an Olympics or boast a Manchester United, a Leicester Tigers or an Exeter Chiefs, but Taunton can rise to the Championship.”

The club further announced that the current 1st XV would be known as Taunton Titans in future competitions; the Titans offering a title and a brand to carry the flag for Taunton in the national sporting arena.

In his response Mayor Brooks warmed to the Dare to Dream initiative and promised to do what he could to promote public sector support for the initiative. He said, “Sport makes a great contribution to our community. I can see the Taunton club serving as a central focus for local sport and business.”

For further details on the Dare to Dream initiative and the Taunton Titans the club invite all to check the website regularly for more news or sign up to our email newsletter service at www.tauntonrfc.co.uk/signup to read the latest developments.