The first Under 13s Rugby League Development Programme run by the Leeds Rhinos Foundation has given over 140 players from community clubs in the city the ideal platform to progress in the game according to feedback from clubs.
The 12-week programme came to an end last week with a match night at Kippax Welfare, pitting teams from the three regional training hubs against each other to put into practice some of the skills they had learnt during the programme in a match situation.
Over 140 players selected from clubs and schools in the city finished the programme, which initially included five weeks of skill development before coming together for a special development night at Headingley Carnegie Stadium to provide a unique insight into the professional game.
East Leeds player Nehemiah Mensah said the programme has been a once in a lifetime opportunity:
“What I found most useful in the programme was when we were in groups with different people from other clubs and training with them regularly as well as learning new ways to tackle. This has helped me to communicate with my team mates better during matches,” said Nehemiah.
“Another highlight of the programme was when we played at Kippax Welfare against different teams where I scored two tries, I was very proud of myself and I realised that I have really progressed in Rugby since the beginning of the Development Programme.
“I would definitely recommend the programme to people younger than me to take this once in a life time opportunity.” He added.
The half way point in the programme at Headingley Carnegie Stadium saw all three of the hubs in the North East, South West and Outer regions come together for the first time to receive a talk from Brian McDermott before working with Leeds Rhinos stars Jamie-Jones Buchanan, Carl Ablett and Jordan Lilley on special coaching workshops on the pitch.
The players and parents also received a talk on sports nutrition for the younger player from PHD Sports Nutritionist Tom Geeson-Brown before hearing from programme leader Francis Cummins on the rest of the programme.
Cummins, who coaches in the community at the Under 13s level with North Leeds Leopards sees the programme as a great way to complement the work going on in community clubs across the city:
"There is no doubt the programme has been a great success. We know we are on to something really good here, it's not about becoming a professional, although that might well be a by-product down the line for some players, that is not the main aim here,” said Cummins.
"The main aim is to complement the great things that are going on in the community clubs and if it helps out with player's performances with their clubs then great, but if it gives the kids a better insight into to some of the better practices in coaching then we are definitely helping the game.”
The success of the programme has been down to the support of the parents, coaches, referees, players and clubs, who have provided facilities including East Leeds, Kippax Welfare, Birstall Victoria and Stanningley in the final five weeks and Hunslet Club Parkside, Chapeltown Cougars and St John Fisher High School in the earlier part of the programme.
Community Clubs Development Officer for the Leeds Rhinos Foundation Sam Horner, who has helped coordinate the programme commented:
“We have a long list of people to thank for their efforts in supporting this new programme in its first year of running. Clubs in particular have gone above and beyond to facilitate the programme and we couldn’t have done it without them providing their venues but also community coaches and in particular parents who have given up their time to support the players throughout.”
“I’d also like to thank the players themselves who have really bought into the programme and shown a fantastic attitude from the start along with our young volunteer referees Adam and Nathan Torvil, Bailey Matthews and Luke Bland for officiating our games in the final week.”
The programme which falls under the Leeds Rhinos Foundation’s Rugby League Development Plan coordinated by Leon Crick from the Leeds Rhinos Foundation and sponsored by Mears was designed with the purpose of upskilling players but with the wider intention of giving them an insight into the professional game as they move into the scholarship age group.
Under 13s Coach at Batley Boys Mark Parsons, whose son Jonah took part in the programme at the outer region hub at Birstall Victoria and St John Fisher said the programme has been beneficial to both players and coaches involved:
“Jonah has loved it, he noted that the standard of coaching was very high and that the standard of the players was higher than club level which he thought was great and has helped his game and helped him develop new skills in what were very controlled and planned sessions,” said Mark.
“The coaches have been firm and there’s been no messing about, again Jonah thrives in that environment as he wants to play rugby not turn up for a social night.
“He especially enjoyed the friendship of all the players who he trained with Jonah said the players went from rivals to friends which is fantastic for the game and their development. I watched every training session and the games and I see the effort that everyone has put into this over the weeks of training and that’s a credit to the Rhinos and the boys.”
Led by a mixture of professional coaches and qualified coaches from the community clubs in the region experienced in coaching at the under 13 level, the programme has provided an opportunity for parents, coaches and players to share in best practice, which Mark sees as another positive outcome from the 12 weeks:
“As a coach myself It has helped me develop too and I have taken the skills I learnt watching the sessions back to the club and introduced them to all the players," said Mark.
“Once again a superb Leeds Rhinos Foundation course, thoroughly enjoyed by Jonah and by myself. Hope there are plenty more to follow.”
For more information on the Rugby League Development Plan or any of the Leeds Rhinos Foundation's development programmes running in the city contact Leon.Crick@leedsrhinosfoundation.org