Through a recent Sky Sports initiative, the Leeds Rhinos Foundation will be holding a number of regular 9-a-side festivals for both Year 7 and Year 8 boys at a series of venues across Leeds starting in April and running as part of seven festivals until June 11th.
The Finals Day on Thursday 11th June will also form part of a Day to Remember event that will include an opportunity to attend the Leeds Rhinos vs Castleford Tigers game at Headingley Carnegie Stadium kicking off at 8pm and pupils and family members will be offered a chance to attend the match at a discounted ticket price.
Sky Try is the new multi-million pound project that will 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.
The new Rugby League initiative supports and develops grassroots participation across the UK, incorporating four distinct pillars each with specific targets and outcomes: Primary Rugby League, Secondary Rugby League competition and coaching, Play Touch Rugby League and the 'Make the Big Games Bigger' initiative.
The festivals will target secondary Rugby League by offering a chance for the year 7 and 8 age groups to take part in regular Rugby League matches with 9-a-side modified rules in a round robin league format and run which are organised by Leeds Rhinos Foundation staff.
The festivals will be held at seven Leeds schools including Corpus Christi, Cardinal Heenan, Cockburn, Temple Moor, Swallow Hill, Priesthorpe and Lawnswood with teams from each school competing in the festival.
All Year 7s and Year 8s teams will then be invited regardless of previous results to play in either a Cup or a Plate competition on finals day, with an event that will include various fun events and Rhinos personalities and the Leeds Rhinos Foundation’s inflatable skill zone.
The first festival takes place for Year 8 Boy’s at Corpus Christi Catholic College on Thursday 23rd April from 4pm – 5.15pm.
To enter your school into the Sky Sports 9’s tournament, please email Russell.parker@leedsrugby.com and confirm the year groups that you would like to compete. Until the level of interest from schools is determined, schools will only be able to enter 1 team per age group.