As Leeds Rhinos prepare for their first home Betfred Super League game of the season, the club’s official charity Leeds Rhinos Foundation have inspired the next generation of players, with over 600 children taking part in Rugby League Development projects over the half term.
With support from Leeds Rhinos men’s and women’s players, the charity offered young people in the city a week’s long schedule of rugby training for those just starting out to players wanting to develop their game.
The Rugby League Development Plan is Leeds Rhinos Foundation’s flagship project which has set out a mission to increase participation in Rugby League, retain more players, create further opportunities for women and girls to participate in the game, improve standards with regular coach and education workshops and nurture an inclusive environment that makes the sport accessible to all communities and abilities.
Leeds Rhinos legend Danny McGuire, who returned to Leeds last year in the role of Rugby League Impact and Growth Manager for Leeds Rhinos Foundation will head up a new project for children in their final year of Primary School with the aim to enthuse young people about Rugby League and take their game to the next level with rugby skills specific sessions.
McGuire said: “Since joining Leeds Rhinos Foundation I have been overwhelmed by the passion by everyone involved in the charity and the club to drive our game forward at grassroots level. There are huge challenges for Rugby League to increase participation and keep more players involved in the game, but I think the strategy we have set out through our Rugby League Development Plan will help us achieve that ambition.
“The numbers we have had involved in our projects during the half term is amazing and shows what we are doing is having an impact. Rugby League has always been at the heart of communities in Leeds and we hope to help more young people get involved and experience the value of being part of a team.”
Last year Leeds Rhinos Foundation commissioned a report to evaluate the impact of their work. The findings indicated that for every £1 invested into the charity there was a £7 cost benefit to society. Through the Rugby League Development Plan, which supports grassroots rugby in clubs, schools, colleges and universities, the charity has been able to deliver positive social change with indicators such as increasing physical activity, reduction in crime and anti-social behaviour, improvement in educational attainment, as well as creating positive mental health.
The week also saw see Leeds Rhinos Women and England international, Keara Bennett, running a Girls Talent Transfer session, for young players who play different sports at school but have been identified as having potential to play Rugby League.
Bennett, who is the Women and Girls Development Officer for Leeds Rhinos Foundation said: “The women’s game is thriving, but we think there is so much potential to grow our game and attract more people, who may not have previously played the game. Through our Rugby League Development Plan, we want to breakdown any barriers that young people may have to play Rugby League and make our sport accessible for everyone.
“I was coached by Lois Forsell through Leeds Rhinos Foundation when I was at my community club and that had a huge impact on me. When you look at the Women’s team now there are so many who have been supported by the Foundation, from Lucy Murray in her school to Grace Short, Ebony Stead, Frankie Blakey, Ruby Walker and Amelia Hirst who we worked with in the Leeds Rhinos Development Academy at Leeds City College.”
On Tuesday 17th February, Community Clubs Development Officer Sam Horner, was joined by RFL Head of Referee Development, Ben Thaler, to deliver the Ref with the Rhinos Programme. This involves young people, aged between 14 and 18, having the opportunity to be introduced to a pathway into refereeing. In partnership with the RFL Match Officials and Referees Department and the Leeds Rugby League Referees’ Society, Leeds Rhinos Foundation, this introductory day provided participants with a clear insight into the programme, outlining how they can benefit from taking part and how it will positively impact their refereeing pathway and future opportunities.
Sam Horner commented, “As important as bringing through the next generation of men and women players is developing the officials of the future too. It’s an often said comment ‘we don’t have a game without a referee’ but it is so true. We want to give young people the confidence and training to take up the whistle as that will mean we can see more games at all ages taking place every weekend across the area. The RFL Match Officials and Referees Department and the Leeds Rugby League Referees’ Society are great partners with the Leeds Rhinos Foundation and we all have a collective vision for what we want to achieve.”