Leeds Rhinos Foundation’s Rugby League Development team have been increasing the number of junior players taking part in Rugby League in 2018 introducing the game to over 100 new players since the start of the year.
Coaches from Leeds Rhinos Foundation have been working with clubs and schools in Leeds through funding from Sky Try and Rugby League Development Plan sponsor MEARS to help drive new recruits to Rugby League, focussing on the youngest primary rugby age group with the under 7s.
The charity employs full time coaches to deliver this support, providing a vital link between school P.E lessons and rugby league at local community clubs by delivering free coaching to introduce pupils from years 1 and 2 to the sport and then signposting them to a taster session at a local club.
With the start of the community club season every year in March, Leeds Rhinos Foundation coaches have worked in a number of primary schools from the catchment area of five community clubs so far in 2018, including Garfoth Tigers, North Leeds Leopards, East Leeds ARLFC, Bramley RL and Chapeltown Cougars.
Last month in particular, the charity worked with close to 90 boys and girls in the year 1 and 2 age group with North Leeds Leopards, East Leeds, Chapeltown and Bramley with a further 22 new players attending a taster at Garforth Tigers in February, providing a huge boost for the club.
Club Secretary at Garforth Tigers Joanne Paterson said:
“It’s been fantastic for us as a club, when we first started we had very little teams, we had just two teams in the league and through the Sky Try sessions with Leeds Rhinos for the past four years we’ve had an under 7s which has organically grown into what is now the under 10s and 11s, so it’s fantastic for us.”
“We’ve got the under 15s this year that will be moving into division three and we’ve had some record new signings for that team, hopefully an under 12s kicking off and under 10s, the under 9s are already going, the under 7s and we are hoping to try and get a girls team up and running, which will be a first for Garforth Tigers and a first for Garforth as an area as well, in both Rugby Union and Rugby League.”
Rugby League Development Plan Manager Leon Crick said:
"We are delighted to see that our work with year 1 and 2 pupils in primary schools and with girls in secondary schools is really having an impact on the numbers coming through and playing the game at the junior level. These players can now grow into the game in a fun environment around their friends, which is the best place to learn," said Crick.
“Sky Try funding saw Leeds Rhinos Foundation support 20 community clubs to set up under 7s age groups in 2017, improving the number of young new players playing Rugby League and as those age groups have moved up to under 8s the work will now continue.
For more information on Leeds Rhinos Foundation's Rugby League Development Plan sponsored by Mears and Sky Try contact Leon.Crick@leedsrhinosfoundation.org
See our video from the Taster session at Garforth Tigers here –