During the half term, 73 school club hub officers were in place, and 473 teams played 1685 fixtures in those schools and colleges, involving 10683 players.
As the programme is in its second year, it is possible to compare the results of the 43 school club hubs that made up the initial intake last year. In those schools, there has been a further 18.4% increase in the number of teams playing matches in the first half term of the school year – 323 teams compared to 257 last year, and an 8% increase in the number of fixtures played – 1073 compared to 991 this time last year.
A key part of the programme is to enable rugby clubs throughout Wales to become more sustainable and 767 school and college players joined rugby clubs as a result of the school club hub scheme during the first half term of this year.
The aim is not only to increase boys and girls’ participation in rugby at all levels, but to develop leaders within schools and 347 pupils qualified as rugby leaders during the half terms, while helping to deliver 1207 rugby sessions to primary school boys and girls.
The emphasis on leadership is just one element of the off field benefits of being a school club hub. Many schools believe having a full time rugby officer has helped to improve pupils’ general behaviour around the school and even their attitude towards learning.
Eastern High in Cardiff is just one example of schools reaping the benefits of a strong rugby programme. Cardiff hooker Marc Breeze has been school club hub officer since the summer term and the school has seen a significant improvement both in terms of increased participation in competitive and social rugby but also off the field of play.
Head teacher Armando di Finizio said, “Marc has a fantastic relationship with the kids, he runs inter-house touch competitions every lunchtime and the general result of his input has certainly had a huge impact on the health of the students and their attitude towards school.
“Pupils who were on the brink of exclusion this time last year, are nowhere near that now, they are engaged in all the activities in the school.”
Marc Breeze added, “If you bring the values of rugby union into lessons and training sessions, we have seen the effects of that in the classroom too. Certainly, some teachers have told me that they have seen a positive change in children they had real problems with last year, so it’s a ‘win-win’ situation.”
WRU Head of Rugby Josh Lewsey said, “Our focus, over the last couple of years and in particular ahead of the Rugby World Cup on home shores, was to put the underlying structures, systems and plans in place to underpin the health of the game in Wales, underpinning both the elite and community game. Our commitment is not only to increase participation in the game at all levels, but to develop good people and inspiring role models.”
Wales Office Minister Alun Cairns, who visited the school said, “The great benefit of sport in schools is that it teaches pupils to work as a team and rugby is playing a central role by supporting schools who are in turn supporting rugby clubs. The partnership is not only helping to create stars of the future but a more cohesive society and even, better education standards.”
The Welsh Rugby Union commissioned research by Birmingham University to further examine the impact of the School Hub programme and the findings suggest that there are higher levels of pupil morale, confidence and self-respect when pupils engage in school sports and in rugby in particular.
Data for 73 Hubs currently operational (Up to 80 school club hubs will be operational by the end of the year):
473 teams currently playing
1685 Fixtures played in half term one of 2015/16 (HT1)
10683 players playing for hub schools in HT1
767 Players transferred to clubs through the work of hub officers in HT1
347 rugby leaders qualified in HT1 – they have helped to deliver 1207 primary school sessions (including 2866 primary school girls within the delivery)
Data for 73 Hubs currently operational (Up to 80 school club hubs will be operational by the end of the year):
• 473 teams currently playing
• 1685 Fixtures played in half term one of 2015/16 (HT1)
• 10683 players playing for hub schools in HT1
• 767 Players transferred to clubs through the work of hub officers in HT1
• 347 rugby leaders qualified in HT1 – they have helped to deliver 1207 primary school sessions (including 2866 primary school girls within the delivery)
Comparison data between the 43 original Hubs year on year –
• First Half Term Boys Teams Playing Matches 14/15 – 257 Teams (18.4% Increase on previous figures)
• First Half Term Boys Teams Playing Matches 15/16 – 323 Teams (25% Increase on year 14/
• First Half Term Boys Teams Fixtures Played 14/15 – 991 (71% of previous year’s fixtures played in 8 weeks of the season)
• First Half Term Boys Teams Fixtures Played 15/16 – 1073 (8% increase on year 14/15)
• First Half Term Boys Participation 14/15 – 5170 (increase of 847 or 16% on previous figures)
• First Half Term Boys Participation 15/16 – 6273 (increase of 1103 or 21% on 14/15)
Baseline Boys Club Registrations – 2153 club players (49% of Boys playing at School were also club players)
• First Half Term Boys Club Registrations 14/15 – 3248 (62% of Boys playing at School are also club players)
• First Half Term Boys Club Registrations 15/16 – 3883 (62% of Boys playing at School are also club players)
NB. The focus on girls rugby will be in the spring and summer terms in line with the new strategy for women and girls rugby in Wales.
