The Leeds Rhinos Foundation are teaming up with Jane’s Appeal for the annual Jane Tomlinson Festival at Leeds Rugby Academy next Tuesday, with the biggest turnout of year 7 and 8 girls teams since the tournament started playing off for the prestigious Jane Memorial Trophy.
The trophy was set up in support of the inspirational Jane Tomlinson and as a showcase for the great talent, determination and courage of girls' Rugby League with the aim to encourage more young people to be involved in Rugby League.
Teams from schools across the city including: Swallow Hill Community College, Morley Academy, Cockburn, Allerton High, Farnley Academy, Brigshaw School, Bruncliffe School and last year’s winners Temple Moor, will all be taking part this year, making it the biggest turnout of teams for the festival to date.
Joining the tournament this year at the training ground of the Leeds Rhinos and Yorkshire Carnegie
The festival will be organised once again by the Leeds Rhinos Foundation and Women and Girl’s Development Officer Lois Forsell who commented:
“It is amazing to team up with Jane’s Appeal, they support the event fantastically and it is great to show the younger generation all the fantastic work Jane did and still does through the Appeal’s excellent work.”
“It is great to team up with Jane’s Appeal to run a tournament for year 7 and 8 girls again. The tournament is one of the biggest of the year with Leeds Rhinos first team players handing out awards and meeting the players, Jane’s Appeal coming to present the prestigious trophy, and goody bags for each player.
“Last year we had 7 teams entered with Temple Moor taking home the trophy who are back to try to retain their title against 7 other schools who will be playing to make their bid for the trophy.”
With national Women’s Sport Week taking place this week, the joint partnership festival now in its fifth year arrives this year at a pertinent time, raising awareness of the Jane Tomlinson Appeal and continuing Jane’s legacy to encourage girls to be active and engaged in sport.
Siobhan Curtis from Jane's Appeal added:
“Seeing so many schools take part in the tournament year on year is fantastic. The work that the team at Leeds Rugby Foundation do in order to get girls more engaged with the sport is great. Jane was very passionate about getting kids active and so this is something we are very proud to be associated with.”
For more information on girl’s rugby, please contact Lois.Forsell@leedsrugby.com
To make a donation or find out more information about Jane’s Appeal visit: http://www.janetomlinsonappeal.com/