The scheme saw 43 full-time school-club hub officers employed by schools and colleges around Wales at the start of the school year, but this announcement means that number will go up to 80 from September. It is a long-term strategy, with all initial offers three years in duration.
The clear aims of the scheme launched in October as part of the WRU rugby department’s new strategic plan, aimed to increase regular participation in rugby within schools, help strengthen links to clubs, making them more sustainable, develop good role models within schools and communities and provide maximum playing opportunities for girls and boys of all ages and abilities.
The hub officers have a direct link to Wales’ national coaches via three WRU international skills coaches who pass on a consistent message with regards to a skills development curriculum and philosophies, and the officers are also given best practice and performance advice in many other areas of the game, thus underpinning the needs of both the elite and community game.
The system links to the Welsh Baccalaureate, providing older pupils with opportunities to train as coaches and referees, while providing additional playing opportunities for younger pupils.
The figures from the first six months of the new system are overwhelming (figures relate to the 43 school-club hubs):
* 29.5% increase in school teams
* 37% increase in matches played
* 39% increase in participation numbers
* 26% increase in club membership
* 232% increase in ethnic minority players
* 605% increase in girls fixtures
These additional Hubs will be schools or colleges who have already expressed an interest in joining the scheme and who meet the criteria set by the Welsh Rugby Union. However, there is room for further expansion in the future.
Deputy Minister for Sport Ken Skates said: “I am delighted to hear about the success of the school-club hub initiative, which is giving boys and girls of all abilities the opportunity to play rugby. The Welsh Government wants to see more young people hooked on sport, so they can be active for the rest of their lives. That is why we continue to support and work with the WRU to increase participation in rugby at all levels. Congratulations to Josh Lewsey and everyone else involved in rolling out this innovative and exciting programme.”
WRU chairman Gareth Davies, who, along with Barry John and Jonathan Davies is a product of Gwendraeth Grammar School, now a School Club Hub as Ysgol Maes y Gwendraeth said, “It is clear from the first few months of the School Club Hub project that there is an appetite for rugby throughout schools, both from pupils – boys and girls of all abilities – and teachers.
“I have fond memories of playing rugby at school, it is where you forge friendships for life and a deep love of the game as you spend so much of your formative years there. At the same time, the Hub initiative is injecting a new lease of life into grassroots clubs and opening up new opportunities for young people.”
WRU Group Chief Executive Roger Lewis said, “This is the most significant rugby project launched by the Welsh Rugby Union in a generation. I believe it will benefit the game in Wales for years to come. We begun our work on the School Club Hub initiative early in 2014, launched the project in October of last year and today the results speak for themselves. It has been an outstanding success.
“I thank our schools, colleges and clubs along with Sport Wales and the Welsh Government for their support and partnership. Together we have created something very special”
WRU Head of Rugby Josh Lewsey added, “The figures speak for themselves, and increasing habitual participation is an important outcome but the scheme is much more than that.
“As in many other areas of the game, there is evidence that the hub officers are helping to reinforce the desired culture and values of our game so our broader focus is on developing good people and not just good rugby players.
“To capture and chart the broader benefits we have commissioned an academic research project with Birmingham University to look into the additional benefits of the scheme on areas such as pupil behaviour, attitude and self-esteem.
“In increasing to 80 schools, colleges or universities, the Hubs would support 68% of clubs in Wales and our plan is to grow the programme even further to be the largest national Governing Body Sports Programme in Wales.
“Our aim is to extend the project to include at least 100 Hubs which would impact on around 120 000 young people across Wales, equating to over 90% of our clubs. This would have a revolutionary effect on the health of our national sport.”
