Junior players from Leeds Community clubs have given their verdict on who they think should win this year’s BBC Sports Personality of the Year – the Leeds Rhinos’ treble winning captain Kevin Sinfield MBE.
Over 120 players from eight of the city’s Under-7s sides attended an Indoor Touch Festival at Leeds Sports Centre, which is run by Leeds Rhinos Foundation. The children got the chance to see the three trophies secured by the Rhinos team this year and showed their appreciation to the former Leeds captain who led the side to the three victories by holding a specially made giant banner encouraging people to vote Kevin Sinfield in the BBC Sports Personality of the Year awards.
Stanningley SARLC’s Under-14s coach Ty Barker, said his club will be rooting for Sinfield on 20th December when the ceremony takes place, “Kevin Sinfield is a true sporting hero who has inspired a generation of new players. There is no better role model for these young players to look to than Kevin Sinfield, he is hardworking, a team player and a total professional – all the attributes you want in a player. I think it would be fitting after this unbelievable year, which has brought so much pride to the city and the sport, that we all get behind him and vote for him on Sunday 20th December.”
The Indoor Touch Festivals are part of Leeds Rhinos Foundation’s Rugby League Development Plan, sponsored by Mears, and are held throughout the winter to provide a platform for rugby league players in the junior age groups to continuing playing competitive matches through the winter months, with the larger aim of improving the skill development of junior players aged six to 11.
The large turnout of players from Under-7s teams is a testament to the success of the development plan and also the charity’s work with Sky Try, which aims to increase the number of participants playing Rugby League in this age group. Over the last 18 months 11 new Under-7s teams have been created in Leeds.
The touch tournaments are organised by Leeds Rhinos Foundation’s community clubs development officer Sam Horner, who said: “We are so pleased with the fantastic turnout today of Under-7s sides and this shows how our work in schools and clubs is helping to benefit the community game in our city. One of the clubs here today is Garforth Tigers who until recently no longer had a junior section, however thanks to the work of the Sky Try programme, which sees our coaches work in schools in the club’s catchment area, we have been able to sign post them to the club so the children can continue to play outside of school.
“Our Ambassador Clubs scheme has helped make the links between the Rhinos and the city’s community clubs better than ever and all have been inspired by the success of the team this year. Kevin Sinfield, who has captained the team during this incredible year, is the perfect role model for all these young players and he has always been a huge supporter of our work in the community, which will continue in his role as one of our charity’s Vice Presidents. The whole city are behind him and proud of his achievements and we hope the public get behind this truly great sportsperson and vote for him as Sports Personality of the Year.”
BBC Sports Personality of the Year will be shown live on BBC1 on Sunday 20th December. The telephone numbers to vote will not be disclosed until the live show, which starts at 7pm.