The first of the six indoor touch rugby festivals scheduled for the start of 2015 and organised by the Leeds Rhinos Foundation took place on Saturday, with the under 11’s age group kicking off the year at Leeds Sports Centre.
The festival which was part of a series of ten indoor tournaments running since November for the under 7 to under 11’s age groups, saw plenty of skill on show in another competitive outing for the Junior Rugby League Ambassador Clubs.
85 players from a total of 14 teams in the under 11’s age group, turned out for the morning event, including an appearance from one of the newer clubs in the Rhinos Ambassador scheme in Dewsbury Moor ARLFC. The complete list of teams taking part on Saturday included: Drighlington, Dewsbury Moor, Catterick Crusaders, Garforth Tigers, Whinmoor Warriors, Shawcross Sharks, Milford Marlins and Chapeltown Cougars.
The Touch Rugby festivals aim to promote and develop ball skills, agility, speed, support play and teamwork as part of an overall rugby skill set and focus on inclusion for every player in the squad to take part, with teams bringing up to two small sided squads of 8 players to the events.
Leeds Rhinos Foundation Community Clubs Development Officer Sam Horner has organised the indoor touch festivals along with Foundation Community manager Leon Crick and a team of volunteer referees and support staff that will run until the final event on the 28th February, bringing an end to the winter tournaments:
Sam said: “It’s been a great program for us and we’ve had some really good feedback from the coaches involved so far. The touch format promotes speed, agility, teamwork and skill and has kept the kids together over the winter months.
“We’ve managed as part of the ambassador scheme to have 29 teams signed up and have had some new sides come on board such as Shawcross, who have been a great club for us, joining in with the ambassador festival earlier on in 2014 and taking part as one of the match day half-time teams as well.
“It’s been positive today to have a new member along as well in Dewsbury Moor, who have really come on board with the scheme as well, along with some of the other clubs from that Dewsbury and Batley area.”
Saturday also saw a team from the North Yorkshire catchment area, in the form of Catterick Crusaders Rugby League club make the trip to South Leeds, showcasing the impact of the Rugby League Development plan operated by the Leeds Rhinos Foundation:
“There are some good sides here today with one club coming a long way today from Catterick. They are part of the outreach scheme that will continue running this year and have come nearly 60 miles to be with us today. It’s been a very high standard all round, but the main winner today is definitely Rugby League.”
The next festival to take place at the Leeds Sports Centre will be the under 10's on Sunday 25th January. The event registration starts as normal at 9:15am with games starting at 10am.
For any further details of the event please contact: Sam.horner@leedsrugby.com