High Schools in Leeds will be ready to take on the best schools in the country with support from the Leeds Rhinos Foundation this year, as coaches from the charity help prepare their teams for the RFL’s Champion Schools national knockout competition.
Open to every secondary school in England, Wales and Scotland for girls and boys – the tournament has provided the curtain raiser to the Challenge Cup final since 2002, when the tournament was re-launched by the RFL and the English Schools Rugby League.
Working alongside school P.E staff from the schools in the four corners of the city, Rugby League Development Officers Ian Hardman (East), Richard Tate (South), Callum Tolson (West), Joe Sanderson (North) and Lois Forsell (Girls) will be supporting the teams playing in the competition this year as the city hopes to get more representatives to the National Finals.
Coaching from the Leeds Rhinos Foundation, which is funded by the Rugby League Development Plan sponsored by Mears and Sky Try, is tailored to each schools needs with an emphasis on matchday preparation as Competitions Coordinator for the Leeds Rhinos Foundation Lois Forsell explains:
“The Rugby League Development Officers are supporting Leeds High Schools by delivering curriculum PE lessons and after school clubs with year 7 boys and girls.
“The delivery supports PE staff to deliver high quality Rugby League lessons to their students preparing their school teams for the Champion Schools Competitions. The PE lessons focus on the player’s core skills, preparing them to play in 13 a ‘side games, developing their game understanding and the rules in a fun and challenging environment.”
Heading into the competition for the first time with the least amount of preparation each year are the year 7 teams, who receive extra coaching in preparation for the tournament in view of growing a stronger Rugby League culture as the pupil’s progress through the school.
Paul Brennan from Brigshaw High School commented on the impact of East Leeds Development Officer Ian Hardman in his second year with the school:
“Ian is currently doing an excellent job of supporting the growth and development of rugby league at Brigshaw High School, working with students from year 7 to 10 in curriculum time and supporting students with a wide range of rugby ability and experience.
“His work in the Year 7 lessons is particularly impressive as this year we have had over 36 boys regularly train trying to make the squad for the first round of qualifying matches ready for the Champions Schools competition.
The foundation will work with more than 30 players at each school over the next two terms, working around the competition fixtures with sessions during curriculum time and then at after school clubs on a Monday and Wednesday afternoon.
Alongside providing coaching support, Leeds Rhinos Foundation will be supporting the running of the Champion Schools tournament by initially organising the local stages, organising the venues, staff, teams and referees, along with the staging the local final event that will determine which schools go through to the regional stages.
“We will monitor and support the Leeds teams throughout the Champion Schools Competition and hopefully be able to coach some of the teams to the National Stage of the competition with the ultimate goal of having some Leeds Schools at the Finals at Wembley in August,” added Forsell.
Leeds Rhinos Foundation's work in high schools is funded by the Rugby League Development Plan sponsored by Mears and Sky Try, for more information on the plan visit http://www.leedsrhinosfoundation.org/sport/rl_development_plan.php