An Isle of Wight youth rugby club is gearing up for the season with new gum shields for every player.

Vectis Youth Rugby Club’s under-13s team received the gum shields as part of a joint initiative with Denbigh House NHS Dental Practice.

The dental practice's representatives set up a pitch-side pop-up clinic during an evening training session to take impressions for the gum shields.

The custom-fit gum shields were then made by Ed Day's Denbigh House Laboratories and C and K Labs.

This initiative aims to protect the players' teeth and reduce the risk of dental trauma incidents.

A spokesperson for the club said: "We recognised that the purchasing of such an essential kit item can be an expensive and inaccessible luxury for some, but we wanted to ensure that the wonderful efforts provided by the volunteers at the club were supported.

"We want to help the local community and are always working hard and doing our best to keep the Island smiling. "

The club, the only youth rugby club on the Island, is managed by volunteers and aims to promote children’s physical and mental well-being.

The new gum shields will provide extra protection for the players as they prepare for the upcoming season.