Johnny Manning
BBC News, North East and Cumbria
Rock Cliflag Bee Club
Benjamin and Alexander donated the club’s old training ball to Beach Tobin in Northsteinside
The Rugby Club has developed a new international connection after travelling hundreds of miles before the ball was washed in Denmark.
The Rock Criflagby Club, located in Whitley Bay, Northsteinside, was contacted by German family members who found the ball while on vacation at Lønstrup, about 470 miles (756 km) away.
Club chair Andrew Sagden said the used training ball was originally left at Long Sand Beach, allowing the family to play on the coast.
“Obviously, someone took this opportunity to choose it for the sea hoof. We rather they didn’t do it, but it was a great story,” he said.
The Rock Crill Flag Bee Club has encouraged more people to play sports by leaving the balls in toy boxes at Long Sand Beach.
Two of the club’s young players, Benjamin and Alexander, placed the ball in a bin on June 15th, travelling hundreds of miles across the North Sea in more than a month.
It was discovered by Bernd Terbeek and his son.
Rock Cliflag Bee Club
The ball was washed off with Lønstrup
Telbeek then emailed the club, informing them of their family’s findings and said they plan to use it to play rugby later that day.
“My son, Hake, saw it drifting in the waves and I picked it up,” he said.
“We then checked out Whitley Baylock Cliff and the rugby club and were amazed at how far the ball drifts across the North Sea from the UK to the Danish coast.”
Terbeek said his family plans to keep the ball as a memorial and will continue to check out future club activities.
The Rock Crick Rap Bee Club has approximately 650 players, including adult teams, youth teams and walking rugby teams for senior players.
But Sugden said the club’s main ambition is to get more people involved in the sport.
“We need a team to compete against and we always need people who just enjoy the sport, whether it’s touch rugby or playing rugby,” he said.
“We are pleased to welcome people who want to enjoy the rugby club and the atmosphere of the game, new players, and mere people.”
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