Sports Minister at Selby Rugby Club
The Sports Minister, Nigel Adams MP, recently visited Selby RUFC, one of his constituency rugby clubs.
While there he met the RFU’s CEO Bill Sweeney and Chairman of World Rugby Bill Beaumont. Together they watched an All Schools training session for 60 girls from two local secondary schools, one Nigel Adams’ old school, Selby High, the other Brayton Academy.
Both schools have been part of the CBRE All Schools programme, Selby High for the past four years, and Brayton Academy for the past three. The Selby club has excellent links with the schools and the All Schools programme has helped bring more girls into the game and the club.
Over the past four seasons they have developed a girls’ section with U13, U15, U18s girls teams and they have also started a women’s team for their girls to move on to and for other women to join.
Selby RUFC runs four adult men’s teams and has over 450 mini and junior players, with teams from U6s – U18s. The club is at the heart of their local community, hosting the local running group, cricket, archery and much more.
The visiting VIPs after being impressed by the skills and enthusiasm of the girls taking part in the event, had an opportunity to discuss a range of subjects affecting rugby union and grassroots sport.
Selby RUFC’s Club Development Officer, Richard Nicholson; their President, Doug Skelton; Ray Adamson, former England international and Selby player; Max Leighton, Treasurer; and Karen Ratcliffe, Marketing Manager; made the day possible and all their visitors very welcome.
Said Bill Sweeney: “This was an excellent opportunity to watch one of our flagship programmes. All Schools has introduced 750 new state secondary schools to rugby, with 18,000 students involved over the life of the programme now playing at a local club.
“To share the event with our Sports Minister at one of his constituency clubs gave us all a real flavour of the work going on across the country and an opportunity to discuss the benefits and importance of community sport.”
(Picture credit: The Selby Times)
