Rugby Football Union - Eastender Ricky converts to rugby

Eastender Ricky converts to rugby

by Simon Mills

Six teenagers from the East End of London have enhanced their own future prospects by introducing rugby to hundreds of children and running a summer sports camp.

The Year 10 students from Bow coached at seven different schools in Tower Hamlets before running a week-long rugby course for 60 young players.

The new recruits benefited from a week of training, games and skills sessions that ended with a tournament staged on the borough’s only rugby pitch at Victoria Park in Bow.

And the six mentors gained valuable work experience in coaching and administration in a part of London where opportunities to play the game are in short supply.

The scheme, backed by the New Opportunities Fund, has inspired Ricky Ali, 15, to think about coaching or teaching as a possible career when he leaves school.

“Probably the best thing that could happen here is for more schemes like this one put in place,” said Ali, one of six boys who received the RFU Community Leaders award for their efforts.

“I enjoy playing rugby and the work experience has been good because it’s given me the chance to learn about coaching, administration and organising things.

“I’d consider coaching, or working as a PE teacher or something involving ICT and maybe a job like this that’s good because it involves all these things.”

Ali was introduced to the game at Bow Boys by PE teacher Paul Cooper, played for the school and borough and has gone on to join the Eton Manor club in Essex.

Cooper has taken the Tag Rugby game to six other schools in the borough and believes there is an abundance of talent waiting to be tapped.

“The summer camp showed us there’s tons of natural ability here,” said Cooper.

“On the first day the kids couldn’t stop kicking the ball around, but once they’ve learned how to catch and pass they want the ball in their hands all the time.

“At these schools there are a lot of outstanding athletes, who would never have the chance to play rugby unless we had offered it to them.”

Cooper supervised the NOF scheme at Bow School, one of eight school rugby projects in the country backed with National Lottery cash.

Ali, Ragan Bailey, Tyson Douglas, Steve McKenna, Steven Parker and Charlie Webb were responsible for everything from organising the budget for the summer camp to coaching the nine and 10 year old players.

“As well as benefit in terms of more players taking up the game, it was also great for the young leaders,” said RFU Rugby Development Officer Chris Sigsworth.

“They have shown massive improvement in their social and work-based skills and who now have some quality work to put on their CVs when they leave.

”Ricky would definitely be someone that will go far as a coach or teacher as his interaction with the young players was excellent, as were his administration skills.

“He is someone we hope who would continue to help us develop the game in the area.”