|
|
|
RFU and Goodyear get Rugby Ready on road
|
Saturday November 22, 2008
Issued by Simon Mills
|
|
The RFU today launches a new partnership with Goodyear and Sport England to deliver the IRB Rugby Ready programme to coaches throughout the country.
IRB Rugby Ready is the leading global education resource for delivering information about match preparation, technique, and injury prevention and management.
The programme will be delivered in hundreds of workshops to around 4,000 coaches nationwide in its first year and will become a mandatory qualification for anyone taking an RFU Level One coaching award.
The RFU will roll it out in association with sponsors Goodyear, who will contribute £300,000 as the delivery partner, supported by a £75,000 grant from the National Sports Foundation.
It is endorsed by England Assistant Coach Graham Rowntree, the former Leicester Tigers prop who won 54 caps for his country.
"Having played at the highest level I was only too aware of the importance of physical preparation and sound techniques for the prevention of injury," said Rowntree.
"Safety is of paramount importance at all levels of the game from the Under-7s to the veterans and from the Community Game to England Rugby.
"When I was asked to support the Rugby Ready course I was delighted to be able to accept. This is a programme which is relevant to all coaches of the game by putting safety first through practical application as well as giving common sense advice and guidance.
"With partners Goodyear fully behind the Start Coaching - Rugby Ready course, coaches will have the benefit of the resources of quality products which put safety first."
Goodyear Dunlop Group Managing Director Mark Brickhill was due to launch the partnership formally today by handing over a cheque for £300,000 to RFU President Brian Williams on the pitch at Twickenham at half-time during the England v South Africa Investec Challenge international.
Brickhill said: "Goodyear is delighted to be supporting the RFU. This initiative builds upon existing safety partnerships Goodyear has with the RNLI and Mountain Rescue, England and Wales. This helps us to continue our commitment to keeping you safe.
"Over the coming months we will be looking to do free tyre safety checks with key rugby clubs across the whole country, helping to keep you safe both on and off the road."
The Rugby Ready programme consists of a three-hour workshop and online resource covering specific technical aspects of the game, injury prevention and injury management, and is aimed at all those responsible for the well-being of rugby players, no matter what their age or experience.
Everything from training ground checks and warm-ups to tackling and lineout drills is covered in a programmed developed by the IRB in consultation with RFU Coach Development Manager Will Feebery.
Since September 1 this year everyone applying for an RFU Level One coaching award has had to complete an online Rugby Ready assessment and completion of the workshop will become a mandatory induction for all coaches accessing Level One awards in the future.
ends
Notes to Editors:
For more information about the Rugby Football Union, contact Simon Mills on 07702 661214 email simonmills@rfu.com
For more information about Goodyear Dunlop contact Ben Crawley ben_crawley@goodyear.com
For more information about the National Sports Foundation contact: Andrew St Ledger 020 7273 1593 andrew.stledger@sportengland.org
The Rugby Football Union is committed to ensuring every rugby team has access to high-quality coaching supported by the best coach development system.
The RFU works directly with 17,500 coaches and school teachers at award courses, coaching clinics and conferences each year.
Around 6,200 qualify for RFU coaching awards each year at Level One (5,000), Level Two (1,200), Level Three (130) and Level Four (15). That pathway is supported by entry level Tag Rugby, Rugby Ready and Community Sports Leaders Awards, and a range of new coach development courses.
The system is supported by a network of more than 500 coach trainers and educators.
The National Sports Foundation is Sport England's primary initiative designed to attract and develop partnerships between private investors and community sport.
Sport England is a non-departmental public body and National Lotter distributor. We are committed to creating a world-leading community sports development system and increasing participation in sport. Sport England's annual budget (lottery and exchequer) is around £250million.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Simon Mills
Community Rugby Media Manager
Rugby Football Union
+44 (0)20 8831 6760
+44 (0)7702 661214
simonmills@rfu.com
To unsubscribe, please click here
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
