Members of Leeds Rhinos Foundation’s Rugby League Development staff have been helping to develop the game outside of their normal delivery hours by taking up coaching roles with local universities this year
Since the introduction of the Rugby League Development plan for Leeds in 2013, the charity has developed strong links with higher education institutions in the city, offering support for both Leeds Beckett University and Leeds University to help the development of their men’s Rugby League teams.
Following the success of the initial three-year period of the plan sponsored by Mears, which has raised standards and participation in the game across the city at all age groups, current staff members Richard Tate, Ian Hardman and Matt Airey will continue the legacy of support in further education going into 2017.
In his second year in the post, South Leeds Rugby League Development Officer Richard Tate will build on a successful first year in his role as Head Coach at Leeds Trinity University, who play in the BUCS North Division 2B.
Tate, who has also been selected as an Assistant Coach for the England students for their tour of Australia in July, helped guide his Leeds Trinity side to the playoff semi-finals in 2015/16 after finishing third in his division and will look to go one better this year with his group.
East Leeds Development Officer Ian Hardman has also put his vast rugby league coaching and playing experience as a Featherstone Rovers player and community coach to good use by working with University of Leeds this year.
Hardman will be looking to develop a winning culture at University of Leeds as they take on teams in the Premier North BUCS Division in his first year in the role.
Outside of the city, University of Bradford Alumni Matt Airey will continue to work with his old university as Head Coach for a second year in the BUCS Northern 3B Division and in the Northern Conference Cup.
Richard Tate, commented on the importance of supporting university Rugby League:
“I speak for myself and colleagues Matt and Ian when I say that it’s been a very rewarding side project for us as coaches to support University Rugby alongside our roles with the Foundation.
“Having seen the success stories of Alex Walmsley and Jimmy Keinhorst coming through the university game to play professionally in recent years and through personal experience of working with England Students,
representative games and with our universities locally, there is definitely a vast pool of talent playing competitive Rugby in Higher Education which will continue to produce players for the top grade, so it’s great to be a part of that.”
For more information on getting involved in University Rugby visit http://www.bucs.org.uk/page.asp?section=17365§ionTitle=Get+Involved
For more information on Leeds Rhinos Foundation’s Rugby League Development Plan click here or contact Leon.Crick@leedsrhinosfoundation.org
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