EDF Energy Cup - : London Wasps Host EDF Energy Schools Rugby Festival

Children can go from festivals to play at EDF Energy Cup games.

London Wasps Host EDF Energy Schools Rugby Festival

23 November 2007, 3:27 pm

By Dan Pritchard

Children from schools in Berkshire will be taking part in a regional tag rugby festival hosted by London Wasps on November 27.

The Guinness Premiership side will be playing host to eight schools it has been working with as part of the EDF Energy National Schools Rugby Programme, which is introducing 112,000 children to the sport.

The festival is being held at Slough RFC, Tamblyn Fields, Upton Court Road, in Slough, from 12pm to 3pm.

London Wasps Community Player of the Year Dave Walder, said: “We’ve been working closely with local schools as part of the programme and the festival is a great way to bring them together after all the work children and teachers have put in.

“The enthusiasm of the children involved is great to see, and it’s brilliant that so many children in this area are being introduced to the sport through the EDF Energy programme.”

The festival will see schools involved in the programme competing against each other in a series of mini leagues, culminating in a final. The schools taking part are Castleview, Godolphin Junior, Ryvers, Parlaunt Park and The Marish School in Slough, and Colnbrook, Foxborough and the Holy Family Catholic School in Langley.

They are just the latest primary schools in the area to receive coaching from London Wasps and equipment from EDF Energy, to ensure a lasting rugby legacy with schools able to play the game for years to come.

Louise Poole, EDF Energy's Head of Brand, said: “The festivals are the culmination of all the hard work that clubs like London Wasps put into the programme through their work with local schools.

“EDF Energy is committed to developing the grassroots of rugby, building on England’s heroics at the Rugby World Cup to ensure we lay down the future foundations of the sport, and bringing on the next generation of rugby’s fans and players.”

Tag rugby is a non-contact version of the sport that teaches the skills necessary to go on and play rugby union.

The programme is one of the most comprehensive in world rugby, involving nine to ten-year-old boys and girls, along with teachers, at primary schools across England. Schools where rugby has never been played before are among those being targeted.

Every Guinness Premiership club as well as National League sides Exeter Chiefs and Cornish Pirates, are providing coaching and running festivals. Players have also been visiting schools, helping with the coaching and awarding certificates. More local schools will be joining the programme throughout the spring and summer term in 2008.

The Government has also recognised the achievements of the programme, with the National Sports Foundation awarding a grant of almost £200,000 in July, so even more children and schools can benefit.

Premier Rugby’s Chief Executive, Mark McCafferty, said: “Our partnership with EDF Energy allows us to work across rugby from the grassroots to the hallowed turf of Twickenham. London Wasps have supported the programme with their key first team players who have proven to be exceptional role models in the past for children of this age.

“The comprehensive nature of the programme we are running with EDF Energy ensures a legacy for participating schools, ensuring continued enjoyment from the sport, but also increasing the chances of one of these children returning to Twickenham in years to come as a professional rugby player.”