Southwark All Stars play their first game
The All Stars consists of players who take part and compete in the Southwark Rugby Club’s community coaching programme.
The schools programme - The Big Yellow Inner City Schools rugby project - was created five years ago to proactively encourage local pupils to try rugby. What started with just four schools has expanded to 11, with over 600 pupils taking part each season.
The programme is delivered by the London Irish Community Department in the borough of Southwark and the All Stars team, which consists of players from 11 local secondary schools, trains every week. They are coached by London Irish coach Jacques Seneschall, Southwark Tigers coach Andrea Nallio, and RFU coach Chris Spedding.
Chris Callaway, youth manager at Southwark, said: “The All Stars project has been in the pipeline for the past three seasons and has only been made possible by the construction of the new 3G floodlit pitch at Burgess Park.
“The reality is that urban students face a huge gap in development as many Grammar or fee-paying schools will train at least three times a week. This is a really exciting journey for the players and the club as well and we can’t wait to see what the future will bring.”
The team played their first competitive fixture on March 26 against Maidstone Rugby Club.
Andrea Nallio, community coach at Southwark Tigers RFC, said: “The game was brilliant, and the players showed passion, commitment, determination, and love for the game. Their willingness to grow and to improve as a team has been remarkable since day one.
“The Southwark Rugby and London Irish families are incredibly proud to be part of their sport development. This young group of players has a very bright future ahead.”
