Over the course of the next two weeks, 500 school children will be participating in a series of Tag Rugby blitzes organised by the Donegal Community Rugby Project as part of their PEACE III funded Community Rugby programme.
The first blitz was held on Wednesday the 29th September, when over 160 school children from 10 schools in South Donegal and County Fermanagh descended on Donegal Town Rugby Club. Further blitzes will be held at Letterkenny RFC, Inishowen RFC and Tir Chonaill RFC during the first two weeks of October.
This project is supported by the PEACE III Programme managed for the Special EU Programmes Body by Donegal County Council. As a result of the funding, the Donegal Community Rugby Project has been able to employ the services of 2 Community Rugby Officers to deliver a number of participation programmes across the County throughout the summer. The aim has been to use the game of rugby union as a way of bringing different communities together to foster a better understanding of each other.
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Each of the schools participating in the blitzes will have already received in-school coaching from the Community Rugby Officers. In addition, as a result of playing in the blitzes each school will also receive a Tag Rugby kit bag and a supply of rugby balls that will allow them to continue playing rugby within the school. Each of the children will also receive a t-shirt to remind them of the occasion.
Commenting on the programme, Chairman of the Donegal Community Rugby Project Graeme Cattermole said: “The blitzes are an excellent way for the school children to be able to put into practice all of the skills that they have been taught by the Community Rugby Officers over the last month. I hope that all those taking part have an enjoyable day at their respective blitz and that they continue to enjoy rugby both within their school and at their local rugby club. I would also like to thank Donegal Peace Partnership for funding this programme. Without their support we would not have been able to run a programme of this size and we hope that the benefit of bringing children from different areas and backgrounds together will be felt for a number of years to come.”
Darren McGuigan, Senior Community Rugby Officer with Ulster Rugby added “I would like to thank all of the schools who have taken part in the programme and I know that the feedback from teachers, pupils and parents has been very positive. I would also like to thank the four Rugby Clubs for providing their facilities for the blitzes, without their support it would not have been possible to have staged this event. I know that they have worked hard to support their local schools and to assist with identifying schools to be part of the programme.”
The County Donegal Community Rugby Project is a partnership initiative between the 6 rugby clubs in County Donegal, the Irish Rugby Football Union and the Irish Rugby Football Union (Ulster Branch) with the aim of establishing a quality structure that provides a pathway and opportunity for the playing of Rugby Union at all levels within the Donegal area. For further information on the Donegal Community Rugby Project contact Darren McGuigan, Senior Community Rugby Officer on (0860 222 936), email darrenm@ulsterrugby.com or visit www.donegalcommunityrugby.com
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For more information, please contact Chris Webster at the IRFU Ulster Branch on +4479177 32657 chris@ulsterrugby.com or Darren McGuigan on 0860 222 936 email darrenm@ulsterrugby.com
Notes to Editors:
Dates of the Tag Rugby Blitzes
Wed 29th September at Donegal Town Rugby Club from 10:30am to 1pm
Monday 4th October at Letterkenny Rugby Club from 10:30am to 1pm
Wednesday 6th October at Inishowen Rugby Club from 10:30am to 1pm
Tuesday 12th October at Tir Chonaill Rugby Club in Carrick Finn 10:30am to 1pm
