Bream RFC have received another boost in their efforts to “financially futureproof” the club with Barbadian international footballer Najee Holder becoming the second student business consultant to join their eco-clubhouse project.

The partnership between Bream and Hartpury University’s Sports Business Hub took another step forward last week when 23 year-old Najee, who currently plays his football for Hartpury University FC, was assigned to assist the club in developing a business plan and marketing strategy for their new facilities, which will be built later this year.

His recruitment comes just two weeks after the club welcomed fellow Sports Business Masters student Noah Geltman, who has experience of marketing the USA’s senior professional rugby competition Major League Rugby, on board the project.

Najee is a current member of the Barbadian national football squad and he also previously captained his country’s cricket team at under 17 level.

He also boasts a strong academic background having acquired a Bachelor’s Degree in Sports Management at Alderson Broaddus University in the US, before enrolling on the Masters course at Hartpury in September last year.

The club committee member responsible for business and district councillor for Bream, Richard Leppington, said: “We are very pleased to welcome Najee to the partnership between Bream Rugby and Hartpury College.

“He has a great deal of sports and academic knowledge and we look forward to his input in building a business that will financially futureproof rugby in the village.”

The club secured planning permission for the clubhouse, which will be built next to the first team pitch at their ground, in February last year.

The aim of the project is to develop facilities that will allow the club to operate as a commercial business, in order to fund “the future of rugby” in the village.

On his new role with Bream, Najee said: “I am extremely happy to be allocated such a huge job for Bream RFC and I am more than excited to be part of the Bream Family.

“I’m going to be making sure the set up of the clubhouse is done to perfection for what’s best for the team and making sure the community has a voice in what they would like to see at their home ground.

“Hopefully after I can be seen as a part of the Bream RFC family and can work with them in the future once more.”

The club’s partnership with Hartpury offers students the chance to gain valuable real-world experience whilst providing the club with expertise that would otherwise cost thousands of pounds through consultants.

Hartpury University’s Head of Sports Business, Dr Alex Kay, says that Najee’s work will focus on how the club can increase revenue from its current members, while Noah will focus entirely on marketing the new facilities in the local community.

Richard added: “I would like to thank Dr Alex Kay from Hartpury for contributing two excellent students to this exciting new project.”