Season 2017/18
Northwich RUFC develop schools rugby plan to develop rugby talent in Mid-Cheshire
Northwich are passionate about developing the game in our local community & surrounding area and keen to bring players through the rugby youth set-up.

The program will commence in November and will be delivered in 5 local Secondary Schools with weekly rugby coaching, leading towards regular matches. Northwich RUFC will be supporting Hartford, Leftwich, UCAN Rudheath, Winsford and Middlewich. 3 of the schools (Hartford, UCAN and Winsford) are part of the CBRE All Schools programme, which was developed by the RFU to increase the amount of rugby in non-traditional rugby schools, and to encourage new players to join local clubs.

The joint aims for the Northwich RUFC Schools Rugby Program are to demonstrate the impact that sport – rugby – can have on school communities by: Contributing to the health and well-being outcomes of the Curriculum & to improve the participation and performance levels of rugby by achieving an increase in the number of boys and girls playing the sport. Increase in the opportunities for pupils to experience learning out of the classroom and Improvement in physical competencies.

It is our aim though that the after school activity can continue through the recruitment of volunteers and teachers and so building not only a larger pool of younger players but a larger network of volunteers in the community, we have a small number of committed coach’s supporting the program but seek additional coaching resource (if you volunteer there is a cash reward).

The kids will receive 10 sessions per school, followed by a festival tournament at Northwich RUFC.

NRUFC Director of Rugby explains "Although Northwich rugby club field 3 men's teams every weekend, with an expanding Mini & Junior section. To grow the game within our community and give the club stability we need to encourage local talent to take up the sport. There is a need to be pro-active and promote rugby within local schools. We are hugely excited by this initiative and enormously grateful to RFU for realising our ambitious plans."

Season 2015/16
Northwich RUFC have been identified by the RFU ALL Schools initiative as the local club to achieve and deliver a step-change in the number of secondary state schools playing rugby union, by supporting schools new to rugby over a three-year programme.
Winsford Academy, Hartford Church of England High School, University of Chester at Northwich (UCaN), County High School Leftwich,we will work within the following schools from September 2014, to maximise their playing opportunities.

Primary School Delivery
Primary school delivery will focus on a variation of the full game, children from years 1 through to 6 will get to experience Tag Rugby which is a fast, exciting variation of the full game of Rugby and with minimal physical contact which allows children to develop their confidence to graduate to the full game. In these sessions children learn ball skills, running techniques, hand eye co-ordination, agility, balance, teamwork and of course enjoy loads of fun!

Primary children will also get to experience more competitive fixtures as the programme progresses. Working closely with The Vale Royal School Sport Partnership (VRSSP) schools will be assisted in organising inter school fixtures which will culminate in local and RFU tournaments.

Secondary School Delivery
Sessions take place at Hartford, St Nicholas, Leftwich and UCaN. Sessions delivered to date have seen a particular rise in attendance at Hartford Church of England High School with up to 80 boys attending the after school Wednesday night sessions with the older age groups also attending Rugby 7s training on a Monday evening.

January was a busy month for the coaches as they delivered P.E. sessions to pupils in Year 7, 8, 9 and 11.

Numbers of players attending after school clubs have also impressed at St Nicholas and Leftwich High Schools as they prepare for the up and coming inter school fixtures, the RFU Emerging Schools tournaments and County Cup competitions.

Girls Rugby in Schools
Working in partnership with Sport Cheshire the club are delighted to announce the formation of two girls satellite clubs, the first at St Nicholas High school and the second at The County High School Leftwich. The satellite clubs will see focussed delivery and fixtures for girls in Key stage 3 and 4 over a three year period. Girls will be encouraged to make the transition from school to club Rugby and bolster the current girls section and providing a progression in to the Womens team at 17/18 years of age. Delivery takes place 25 weeks of the school year and is delivered by the NRUFC clubs RFU Level 2 qualified coaches and RFU Community Coaches within the school settings.

Teacher coaching
Its not just the pupils that will be put through their paces, the club has already delivered a “Get Tagging “course on behalf of the VRSSP to Primary School teachers.
The clubs own coaches will also have to remain on their toes as they to will be observed by RFU coaches to ensure that the highest possible standards of delivery are maintained.