CIRENCESTER RFC has reassured parents that the sex offences carried out by former coach Isiah Young were in no way connected with the club.

Yesterday Young was found guilty of inappropriately touching two 17-year-old girls while a teacher at a college in the Cotswolds.

The 34-year-old, of Reddings Park in Cheltenham, was convicted of four charges of having sexual activity with the 17-year-old girls while in a position of trust as a teacher, after a trial at Gloucester Crown Court.

He is due to be sentenced at a later date and has been released on bail until then.

Following Young’s conviction, the club issued a statement to reassure parents and members of the club.

It said: “Cirencester Rugby Club parents and members can be reassured that we have robust supervision and checking procedures in place to ensure the safety of our younger members. “The safety and wellbeing of our members, particularly children, are our top priority.

“We have worked with the RFU on this matter who issued a Notification of Bar on Isiah Young when they were made aware of the police investigation – this meant that Young had no contact with children at our club during that time and that bar remains in place.

“The offences were committed outside of the rugby environment but we are not complacent - we consider the welfare of our children to be paramount and will continue to work with the RFU.”