Leeds Rhinos Foundation is delighted to launch a new partnership with Leeds Hunters RUFC to help bring O2 Touch Rugby to Leeds.
The partnership will see Leeds Hunters, an inclusive rugby club formed in 2016, offered free use of Leeds Rhinos Foundation’s world-class training facility at the Leeds Rugby Academy in Kirkstall in order to host weekly O2 Touch Rugby sessions for all adults aged 18 or over – irrespective of race, sexual orientation, ethnicity or experience.
The central location will enable Hunters to reach a new cohort as they continue to grow and further diversify their membership, while the superb all-weather 3G pitch will allow for high-quality, fast-paced social Touch Rugby to be played.
Suitable for people of all abilities and experience, O2 Touch is a non-contact form of rugby which means no tackling, no scrums and no lineouts. Whether it’s about rediscovering sport or honing your fitness, O2 Touch is a fun and friendly environment for people to stay active and get involved with Touch Rugby.
.jpg)
The Hunters will get O2 Touch Rugby off the ground in Leeds from Sunday 9 May, with the objective of making rugby more accessible for a broader demographic and making a positive, lasting impact at the heart of the community.
Joe Hall, O2 Touch Co-ordinator for Leeds Hunters RUFC, said: “We are excited to launch this new partnership with Leeds Rhinos Foundation and delighted that the charity has kindly offered to facilitate our weekly sessions to help us become be the latest addition to O2 Touch.
“More than this, we are very proud to be affiliated with the Leeds Rhinos brand and we are excited about how our partnership with the Leeds Rhinos Foundation will grow and develop.
“Leeds Rhinos are a proactive and forward-thinking club, and their charity Leeds Rhinos Foundation demonstrates this through championing diversity, equalities, and inclusion. We are delighted to be partnering with an organisation that shares our values and we are in good company at Leeds Rhinos Foundation to expand our provision for inclusive rugby.”
“This new chapter in our history marks the start of an exciting new journey in which our club could blossom and together with Leeds Rhinos Foundation we are passionate about making rugby accessible to a wider demographic. This continues great initiatives around LGBT inclusion in rugby and sport more broadly, which the Rhinos are known for supporting and will be extended through our O2 Touch Rugby programme.
“This is a great format for new players. Joining a new club can be hard, but O2 Touch helps break that down. It’s not like a hard-core gym class; it’s a gentle and accessible introduction to rugby. We’d love for people to come join us and we cannot wait to get out there now and start playing!”
For all members, players, supporters and volunteers, The Leeds Hunters will always strive to foster an environment of mutual respect, equality, tolerance and teamwork, as well as promote cooperation, friendship and compassion both on and off the pitch.
To find out more about Leeds Hunters RUFC, visit their website www.theleedshunters.com/ or follow the club on Instagram @leedshuntersrugby.
The O2 Touch Rugby sessions with Leeds Hunters have now launched at Leeds Rugby Academy in Kirkstall. Sign up today by searching for ‘Leeds Hunters O2 Touch’ via the O2 Touch App, available to download from either the App Store or Google Play Store.
For more information about playing O2 Touch Rugby in Leeds, please email touch@theleedshunters.com.
