ENGLAND TEAM RECOGNISE THE IMPORTANCE OF COMMUNITY COACHES England Rugby stars back QBE Coaching Club initiative

As England finish their RBS 6 Nations tournament Anthony Watson, Billy Vunipola and Ben Youngs were introduced to the next generation of rugby coaches at their training camp, Pennyhill Park. England players, Watson, Vunipola and Youngs, introduced the new generation of coaches to their formative rugby coaches who have been an integral part of helping them get to where they are today. The group discussed the role of the QBE Coaching Club, a joint initiative between the RFU and QBE, the business insurance specialist. This initiative will see 2,015 new Level 2 rugby coaches recruited and trained by September 2015.   The initiative has been established to ensure the game has enough quality coaches to welcome new players and encourage them to stay within the sport.

While looking at photographs of themselves playing for their youth teams, Watson, Vunipola and Youngs, their respective inspirational coaches Mark Crean, Jesse Coulson and Mike Bush and members of the QBE Coaching Club, reflected on the role that coaching played in getting the players where they are today. When asked about the 2,105 for 2015 initiative Mike Bush who used to coach Ben Youngs at Holt RFC said: “As the nation braces itself for an unforgettable year of rugby, the RFU and QBE have identified coaching as an area of growth in preparation for an undoubted evolution in popularity and participation in 2015. The 2,015 for 2015 initiative is a brilliant way of ensuring that the coaching infrastructure has enough funding and support to cope with the influx of new players.”

When asked about the importance of a community coach Ben Youngs said “The more coaches we have at grassroots level, the more youngsters we can get playing and enjoying the game which, in turn, will benefit rugby as a whole.” Ben added “Catching up with my old coach and the new generation of coaches has reminded me about those people who have supported my success and highlighted the importance of community coaches. If it wasn’t for the constant support, help and advice that I received from Mike, I wouldn’t be the player I am today.”

Mike Bush went on to say: “Coaching is one of the most rewarding things you can do, especially when you see the impact you have on a player. I would encourage the QBE Coaching Club members and other coaches across the country to keep giving it their all, keep improving their coaching skills and one day, you never know, they may produce an England player like I did.”

QBE Coaching Club coach Scott Yarnell took inspiration from meeting Ben Youngs and his influential club coach Mike Bush: ”We tell the kids at my club that reaching the elite level is almost impossible, but one thing I can take away from today is that anything is possible. The England players and their formative coaches have shown me that with a strong coach/player relationship, hard work and determination reaching elite level is achievable.”

Ben Youngs is representing the England team. QBE, the Business Insurance Specialist, is the official insurance partner of England Rugby. QBE is working in partnership with the RFU to recruit and train 2,015 new level 2 coaches by September 2015 through the QBE Coaching Club. Please visit QBErugby.com or follow us @QBErugby.

If you would like to find out more about QBE’s involvement in rugby head to www.QBErugby.com or follow us on Twitter @QBErugby