SRFC Helping to Promote Rugby to Local Schools

In conjunction with the RFU, Spalding RFC have been sending their Head Coach (U12/13s and First XV Coach) George Reid into Spalding Academy and Thomas Cowley to deliver up to 12 rugby sessions per week. The sessions cover all age groups and are running from October 2018 - April 2019. These sessions include lunch time and after school clubs at both schools involving both boys and girls. The students are really enjoying these sessions and they are well attended.

This led to Spalding RFC hosting Secondary School tournaments at their new ground on 19th November and 4th December.

The first, on the 19th November, was run after school and saw over 40 Year 10 and 11 students from Spalding Academy, Thomas Cowley and Boston Grammar schools compete in a 7-a-side format .

On Tuesday 4th December, Spalding Academy, Thomas Cowley, Bourne Academy and Boston Grammar brought teams representing Year 7, 8 and 9 to attend the second tournament. The tournament lasted from 10am until 2.30 with all teams playing 4 games each.

We saw some excellent rugby played by all ages especially as these schools are not recognised as rugby schools. The Year 9 part of the event was extremely well contested with some excellent tackling and running.

In between games the students received coaching on various aspects of the game from Paul Wilks and Richard Stevenson, Spalding RFC age group coaches and David Cotton-Betteridge from the RFU. Whilst, Peter Jullien, the Club Treasurer and retired referee - with George Reid officiated the matches.

The students were provided a hot meal at lunch break provided by the club and cooked by club volunteers.

We also have a number of our Mini's coaches working with local Primary Schools running tag rugby sessions either in school time or as part of their after school club offering. Again, introducing rugby to the lower age groups and showing that it is a fun sport to take part in.

All these activities are designed to encourage school children of all ages to take up the sport and potentially come along and join in the training at the New Ground and potentially join one of our teams.

The tournaments gave the Year 7-11 students the chance to play against other teams with the aim of encouraging them to take up the sport and potentially come along and join one of the teams at Spalding RFC. And, it was great to see three of the lads from Year 9 at Spalding Academy, come along last Sunday to join the U14 training session and return for more training on Tuesday evening. They are now members of the U14 team.

Updated 08:00 - 30 Aug 2019 by Nicky Franklin