Jamshedpur, Feb. 23: The steel city’s aspiring Johnny Wilkinsons (star of England’s World Cup winning rugby squad) will not have to wait much longer. Tata Steel (Tubes Division) has planned to launch the sport in the coming monsoon.

Rugby experts from Calcutta have been roped in to explain the logistics of the sport.

Sources in the Tubes Division said rugby would be launched initially for the fitness of company officers. It would gradually spread to other areas.

“Rugby is part of “Ten Sports”, which we have launched for the officers of our company. We have contacted Vaes Paes, father of tennis ace Leander, to offer logistical support,” they added.

Apart from rugby, lawn bowling, walking, trekking, badminton, basketball, cricket, volleyball, football, and hockey are part of Ten Sports.

“We have earmarked two grounds for rugby, the Tube Makers’ Club and the Indian Steel and Wire Products’ Ground. The latter is the best option as it is larger and has a bigger capacity. The ISWP ground will be developed for rugby,” sources added.

They said initially the sport would be for Tubes Division officials only.

“We intend to spread it to other areas of the city as well. It is a very popular sport abroad and we are inclined to introduce rugby to people in the city,” sources added.

Paes, who is a member of the world rugby body, will send a team of experts to explain the rules and regulations of rugby to the officers.

“He has agreed to our request for logistical support and has promised that he will send a team of experts to the city next month or in April,” sources said.

Tubes Division officials would also take the help of the Tata Steel sports department in future.

“They have the expertise to organise sports activities in the city. We will approach them when we initiate the process of spreading the game to other parts of the city,” they added.

Sources said the equipment would be bought from the market.

“We are awaiting the arrival of technical experts from Calcutta,” they added.