Through a recent Sky Sports initiative, the Leeds Rhinos Foundation have been working in local schools in the Leeds region to introduce Rugby League to primary school children in an attempt to increase participation and promote development in the sport by providing a link to local community clubs.
The new multi-million pound project Sky Try was launched in February with the aim to empower Rugby League clubs' charitable Foundations across the country to make a difference by delivering new opportunities to play, watch and become involved in the sport.
One of the Leeds Rhinos Foundation’s initial projects under the Sky Try initiative has been to develop grass roots participation by targeting the under 7s age group with Primary School Development Officer Matthew Nicholson coaching in a series of schools over a 6 week period to introduce Rugby and signpost children to a taster session at their local club.
The sessions that take the children from an introduction to Rugby League through a series of fundamental skills also receive visits from Sky Try ambassadors and Leeds Rhinos first team stars Stevie Ward and Zak Hardaker, who provide some inspiration and help out with the coaching as well as being in attendance at the club taster session.
The project is currently servicing schools in the Farnley Falcons and Leeds Underdogs catchment area providing sessions at a total of nine schools through the month of June to spread the message of Rugby League to the pupils in Key Stage 1.
Zak Hardaker was present at Lawns Park school for their first session commenting:
“It was brilliant today with the kids just doing some fairly basic drills but what they probably didn’t realise is that they are learning some core rugby league skills such as the motion for scoring tries, carrying the ball correctly and passing technique which is great to see at such a young age.
See the video produced by Super League TV of the session below: