The Leeds Rhinos Foundation presented their first ever primary school stadium tour for 30 children and staff from Weetwood Primary School, as a run through for the new tours starting in February.
The pilot tour was the first opportunity for the foundation to test their new educational exhibit, aimed this time at Primary School audiences to provide a classroom learning experience with a difference.
Tour participants received a behind the scenes look at the professional careers of Rugby League players with a focus on the link between sport and education, including the key elements of respect, attendance, teamwork, discipline and confidence.
The new experience follows on from the success of the High School business tours provided by the Leeds Rugby Foundation to Business Studies students from schools and colleges in Leeds and the wider area targeted at an older age group.
The tour includes the chance to step in the players' footsteps with a tour of the pre-match facilities and the dressing room, learning from conditioning Coach Jason Davidson and Head Coach Brian McDermott through a video message, about the preparation for matchdays and the weekly schedule of the team.
The children then get to meet Ronnie the Rhino, who leads them through the match day tunnel routine, emerging from the North Stand onto the pitchside, learning more history about the ground and taking part in the Rhinos song, ‘Marching on Together.’
The tour then takes a look at the media side of a match day with the children getting the chance to take part in the post-match press conference and face the media, sitting in the press room where players and head-coach Brian McDermott would take interviews after games in a mock press conference.
Support staff from Weetwood School said:
“It’s been lots of fun, the children have really enjoyed it, it’s been interactive with not too much sitting down, they’ve been moving around and getting to see lots of different aspects of the stadium and the day to day life of a player. It think they’ve really benefitted from that insight into what it’s like to be a professional athlete and Rugby League player but also a lot of the psychological and mental aspects to do with that and how it relates to them as young children.
“I think the children really loved Ronnie the Rhino and getting to walk out of the tunnel on to the pitch the most, but even doing a press conference was a real highlight. I would definitely recommend it to other schools, it was good fun and from what I’ve seen I think the kids have really got a lot out of it, so that’s important.”
Leeds Rhinos Foundation School Ambassador Manager, Lisa McCann, who has put together the tour for schools said:
"It has been an exciting time planning the new tour and we hope to provide children with a day they will remember, whether they are existing Rhinos fans or visiting Headingley Carnegie for the first time. The tours will be offered to our Ambassador and Partner Schools, which will further strengthen our commitment to schools and to changing lives through sport."
The new tours will start in February to coincide with the new season and will be available to schools for up to 30 children. The tours last approximately 2 1/2 hours and will be priced at £100 for the group.
If you would like any further details on the tours or about joining as an Ambassador School, please contact Lisa.McCann@LeedsRugby,com.