Press Release

Mayor backs Schools Rugby project

Wednesday 17th October 2007

The Mayor, Alderman Drew Thompson will be giving his backing to the Outer West and Cityside Schools Tag Rugby event taking place at City of Derry Rugby Club on Friday, 19th October, at 11.00 am. The event will be attended by Ulster Rugby player, Jarlaith Carey.

The ‘Primary Schools Tag Rugby Programme’ has been running in 12 local primary schools over the past four weeks. On Friday City of Derry Rugby Club will be hosting a mini tag rugby world cup as a celebration of this innovative schools programme and to mark the final of the Rugby World Cup taking place in Paris between South Africa and England on Saturday 20th October.

This project has been developed by the Derry City Council’s Community Sports Development Officers in the Outer West and City Side Neighbourhood Renewal areas, in partnership with City of Derry Rugby Club and the Bogside & Brandywell Health Forum. The schools taking part include, Rosemount P.S., Model P.S., St Anne’s P.S., Holy Family P.S., St Eithne’s P.S., St Eugene’s P.S., Gaelschoil Eadain Mhoir, Nazareth House, St John’s P.S., Longtower P.S. and Holy Child’s P.S.

Commenting on the programme, Ryan Deighan of Derry City Council, said, “The Tag Rugby programme being developed in the Outer West and Cityside areas of the City emphasises the role that sport and physical activity play’s within our local communities. It also goes some way in highlighting the collective benefits that can be achieved through partnership working between Council, local sporting clubs such as City of Derry Rugby Club and indeed the many local community and voluntary groups operating in the local neighbourhood renewal areas.”

The aim of this project is to continue to promote the benefits of regular exercise and physical activity for local primary school children in order to improve their health and well-being and to encourage the development of sports such as rugby within local communities and schools.

The Mayor, Alderman Drew Thompson, welcoming the programme said he supported any project that encouraged physical exercise and a healthy lifestyle. He commented: “Sport undoubtedly has the ability to deliver a wide range of benefits to local citizens, being able to build upon the current strengths of our city and can help to tackle many of its problems. I am confident this project will offer impetus to the efforts of the Council’s highly successful sports development team as they endeavour to promote the role that sport and physical activity can play in the health and well-being of all our citizens.”

Eddie McCallion, Physical Activity Officer for the Bogside & Brandywell Health Forum said, “I would like to congratulate Derry City Council on the development of this project and for their efforts to develop links with the local community. This type of initiative has the potential to improve the quality of life among our young people and goes some way in promoting sports such as rugby in deprived areas in the city. This project is a good example of how sport and physical activity can make a real difference in local communities.”

Commenting on the Tag Rugby Scheme: Robbie Dunn, President of City of Derry R.F.C. said; “We would like to take this opportunity to wish all the boys and girls from all the primary schools taking part in the scheme all the best for the finals day. It is a great honour that City of Derry Rugby Club has been asked to host the finals day event for the Tag Rugby Scheme. This is a great opportunity for the children to learn a new sport like rugby. With current development of youth rugby having a major push at the minute, it is hoped that these children could be the future players of tomorrow”.

Jonathan Quigley, Community Rugby Development Officer. IRFU Ulster Branch commenting on the scheme said; “All the boys and girls have had great fun learning rugby which is a new sport for most of them, they all enjoyed getting the ball in their hands and running with it. Scoring as many tries as possible. There has been a lot of smiles and laughter during the scheme , all the signs that they are having a great time.

This scheme promotes rugby at the grassroots level which goes along way in the promotion of rugby and sport in general.”

Friday’s event brings together the culmination of weeks of hard work and training for the kids from each school, with them playing off against different schools and having fun while doing it.

Ends

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