WORCESTER prop Laura Keates, the England Under 20s captain for the 2007/2008 season, has been named as a vRugby Ambassador.

vRugby is a RFU initiative which aims to create 4,000 new volunteering opportunities for young people aged between 16 and 24-years-old over the next three years.

More than 200 clubs will take part each year with 30 young county activators, each responsible for seven clubs. They will co-ordinate the project that will recruit, train and support the young volunteers.

The aim is to introduce volunteering in bite-size taster projects to young people, asking them to plan, deliver and evaluate their work and assess the benefits to the community.

Keates is one of several ‘faces’ of vRugby and she will talk to volunteers about her experiences and promote the project at various events throughout the year.

Keates, who will also be a county activator for North Midlands, said: “People are always looking to increase the profile of rugby, but I particularly wanted to help raise the awareness of women’s rugby.

“Volunteers have been massively important throughout my rugby career, most people I have worked with have been volunteers and I couldn’t have got to the level I am at without them.

“We want to help get more younger people involved in volunteering because, not only is it fun and rewarding, it means that the voluneteers will be in the game for longer.”