The Leeds Rhinos Foundation ran an indoor touch Rugby competition for the West Leeds schools region year 7 Girls at Priesthorpe School in Pudsey yesterday, to complete a six-week session of coaching within the schools, as part of the foundation’s three year Rugby League plan.
Five schools from West Leeds region and one from South Leeds, participated in the competition with Royds School winning on the night, followed closely by Pudsey Grangefield and one of the Rhinos Partner Schools, Swallow Hill in 3rd place.
The indoor competition, due in part to the winter weather, proved an enjoyable night with Crawshaw Academy, Priesthorpe and Leeds West Academy; who have all received coaching from the Rhinos Foundation, making up the complement of six teams taking part.
Lois Forsell, Girls and Women’s Rugby Development Officer for the Foundation, has coached all the girls involved this term and overseen their development in Touch Rugby:
“Touch Rugby is something that has been running for the girls throughout the Summer months, for those who aren’t as interested in the contact side of Rugby as much, but this year we have started to do it in the Winter and as it’s raining outside and the girls don’t want to be out in that weather, we have brought it indoors this year, and it seems to have gone really well.”
Vicki Holden, P.E teacher from Royds School is a big advocate of the coaching the foundation has provided so far:
“Lois has been coming in for five weeks and we’ve had her in the past, she is a great role model for the girls so it’s really fun for them to see somebody else rather than just their teachers all the time, coming in and showing them the potential of what they could do with their futures.
“They always talk about wanting to play, so getting this opportunity is great for us because we don’t always have time to offer the sessions after school, so having these competitions like today are really good and the kids thoroughly enjoy them”
In the New Year for the start of the new school term, the Rhinos Foundation will start coaching with the year 7 groups in the Leeds North East Partnership as they continue to introduce girls to the sport and engage them in different forms of Rugby across Leeds.
Talking on the opportunities for girls and women wanting to get involved in Rugby in the area, Lois said:
“At the moment its brilliant, all the schools in Leeds are being offered coaching and myself to go in and offer Rugby League, sometimes for the year 7 girls it’s the first time they have played Rugby, some have had an introduction at Primary School which is fantastic through our three year delivery plan, so the opportunities are growing. We have a good contact competition, now Touch Rugby is up and running and the delivery through schools is only helping that, so it’s great”
For more details of receiving foundation coaching or getting involved in Rugby League in the Leeds Area contact lois.forsell@leedsrugby.com
Final Results on the day:
1st Royds School 13 points
2nd Pudsey Grangefield 12 Points
3rd Swallow Hill Community College 11 Points
4th Leeds West Academy 11 points
5th Crawshaw Academy and Priesthorpe both 7 points
The video for the Touch Rugby Competition can be seen below: