Rugby Awareness Week set to roll out across Hertfordshire

WITH the RBS 6 Nations tournament well underway, rugby is more than ever in the limelight. And that’s especially going to be the case in Hertfordshire, with Rugby Awareness Weeks set to roll out across the county from now until March 19.

Saracens' Charlotte Barras (far right), who captained England Women in 2009, coaching some girls at an event run by Saracens Foundation

Rachel McCullough and Oren Blindell, from Welwyn RFC, are again working with Herts rugby volunteer Amanda Bate to organise this initiative.

Last season 62 young people stood up in assembly in 42 schools.

This time it’s taking place during the RBS 6 Nations period and the clubs which have provided speakers in schools are Welwyn RFC, Bishop’s Stortford RFC, Royston RFC, Hemel Hempstead RFC who are all developing girls rugby, and Chess Valley RFC and Verulamiums RFC who are building boys teams.

The schools taking part in allowing the young players to talk about the fun they have at their clubs and the five core values embraced by rugby across the country-Teamwork, Respect, Discipline, Enjoyment, Sportsmanship, are; Meridian, St Mary’s Catholic School (Bishop’s Stortford), Hockerill, Dame Alice Owen’s, Nicholas Breakspear, Marlborough, Verulam, Townsend, Clement Danes, Rickamansworth, Cavendish and JFK, Sir John Laws, Sir Frederic Osborn, St George’s, Chauncy, Richard Hale and Queens’.

Opportunity: Youngsters in the county will get a chance to ask players

There will be 30 speakers aged 12 to 18, girls and boys.

Amanda Bate said: “Both our England rugby teams are doing very well in the RBS 6 Nations, and we are sure that their success coupled with the Rugby Awareness inititiave, will spur young people to join their local rugby club.

“Rugby is enormous fun both on and off the field, and friends made through rugby, become friends for life.

“Anyone interested in playing rugby should either speak to the young person who will be talking about rugby in their school assembly of go to, www.hertsrugby.co.uk, or they can contact me at amanda.bate@hotmail.com.”