Premiership Rugby Launches Urban Rugby Squad
The Urban Rugby Squad, an initiative which will engage 1,000 young people from non-traditional rugby communities across England, has been launched in partnership with Restart Rugby, the official charity of The Rugby Players’ Association (RPA) and BT Sport’s charity, The Supporters Club.
The initiative will see young people aged 14-16 from disadvantaged communities across England given the opportunity to participate in regular sporting activity and personal development workshops that use rugby as inspiration.
All 12 Premiership Rugby clubs will run the programme, with coaches from each team delivering a 12-week recruitment and development process with four local satellite clubs, before each selecting a side to compete in a national festival, to be held at the Twickenham Stoop during the Rugby World Cup 2015.
The initiative was formally unveiled at the Westway Sports and Fitness Centre in West London in an event which saw young people and coaches from a number of Premiership clubs come together for a tag rugby and personal development session.
Former England and Harlequins winger and BT Sport presenter Ugo Monye joined the session and told the participants about his own journey into rugby, providing both practical coaching tips and life guidance to those in attendance.
Over the course of the programme, it is estimated that 1,000 young people from non-traditional rugby communities across England will be introduced to the game, with practical sessions built around personal workshops that focus on areas including anger management, drugs and alcohol misuse, sexual health and physical fitness assessment.
Damian Hopley, group CEO of the RPA, said: “As well as supporting our players who have suffered injury, illness or hardship, this broader community project is a key objective for Restart Rugby and our members who want to see the benefits of rugby impacting more communities across England.
“We are really excited for Urban Rugby Squad to be the first community based programme for Restart Rugby to be involved with. All the RPA members recognise the positive influence rugby has had on their lives and this programme will make a significant impact for good on the participants. It is great to see the professional players supporting this programme via their own charity.”
Premiership Rugby’s chief executive, Mark McCafferty, added: “With our partners, BT Sport and The Rugby Players’ Association, we are committed to show how rugby union can be a force for good in this country.
“The 12 Premiership Rugby clubs will enrol more than 1,000 young people – many from tough areas – into their Urban Rugby Squads this summer. They will get tailored coaching not just to make them better rugby players but to harness the values of the game. We will be reaching out to new rugby communities putting rugby on the agenda for the first time in some areas. The Urban Rugby Squad will also focus on the personal development of squad members to increase their life opportunities. The programme will culminate with a festival during Rugby World Cup 2015 when we will showcase the journey these teenagers have gone on over the summer.”
Speaking about the launch of the project, chief executive of BT Consumer, John Petter, commented: “Our relationship with Premiership Rugby typifies how BT is determined to forge innovative relationships to use sport as an enabler of social change amongst young people.”
