Bolsover District 'Young Lions' Rugby Academy

New Era for Districts Rugby Players

Sunday March 11^th 2007 saw the launch of the Bolsover District ’Young Lions’ Rugby Academy.

Bolsover District Council Leader Eion Watts, District Councillors Keith Bowman, Thomas Rodda and Toni Bennett looked on as Bolsover District Chair, Councillor Ken Walker, addressed coaches, parents and 25 of the Districts best young Rugby players and launched the Districts Rugby development into a new era.

RFU qualified, volunteer Rugby Academy coaches put the youngsters through their paces in two sessions, separated by lunch and then everyone had the chance to watch England beat France in exciting fashion, on a big screen in the clubhouse.

BDC Chairman Ken Walker said ‘The project is an example of effective partnership working, Bolsover District Council, the Rugby Football Union, Bolsover District School Sports Partnership and Bolsover Sports Action Group collectively maximising resources to achieve common goals, I am pleased to see, yet again, Bolsover District Council at the forefront, encouraging innovative thinking, projects and programmes’

Wayne Hatton, BDC Sports Development Officer added ‘National and local targets challenge us to increase participation, raise standards of performance and raise the profile of sport. The Rugby Academy will not only meet the challenge but will also help improve educational performance, build self esteem and leadership skills, counter anti social behaviour and contribute to building stronger communities’

The RFU supported project will see the Districts best young Rugby players, selected from satellite coaching centres currently based at Tibshelf, Clowne and Bolsover Secondary Schools, invited to attend the Young Lions Academy, based at Oxcroft Miners Welfare Sports and Social Club.

Academy squads will initially be made up of youngsters from school years 6, 7, 8 and 9 but will soon include other year groups, squads will have the opportunity to develop their skills, compete against other representative squads and players will be channelled into Rugby Clubs at various levels of the Rugby pyramid which best suit individual players’ abilities.

For more information on the project; In the first instance please contact Wayne Hatton, Sports Development Officer, Bolsover District Council on;

E mail - wayne.hatton@bolsover.gov.uk

Telephone 01246 242336