The RFU launches T1 Rugby in schools
The RFU is ‘rebooting and rewiring’ schools’ rugby schools’ rugby in England following the findings of an independently chaired review.
The review, chaired by United Learning CEO Sir Jon Coles, found that while rugby continued to have a healthy presence in many schools, there was evidence of a decline in others: those with strong rugby traditions driven by concern about injury and those who didn’t play the game believing it is difficult to introduce.
To encourage the continued growth of rugby in education, the RFU has begun the rollout of T1 Rugby: a new non-contact form of the game from World Rugby that reflects the characteristics of rugby union. They have set a target of introducing T1 Rugby into 5000 schools in the next four years.
Schools will be supported with T1 Rugby by a new national network of school rugby managers, which will be 100-strong by 2027. The school rugby managers will work with local schools to get rugby embedded into their curriculum, as well as strengthening links with local rugby clubs.
The review also highlighted a sizable market of untapped talent in schools that do not have a tradition of playing rugby, especially amongst girls and in communities where there have historically been few opportunities to play.
But through the implementation of T1 Rugby, which will see the RFU provide ‘flatpacks’ containing all the equipment needed to play, it will be easier than ever for schools to add the sport to their curriculum, inspiring a new generation of players from all different walks of life to take up the game.
The RFU’s Executive Director of Rugby Development, Steve Grainger said: “Building on the clear recommendations of the review we are committed to developing more and better resources and training for schools across the country which will be key in engaging young people and helping them to access our great game.
“We need to reboot and rewire rugby at the heart of schools, recognising that it's not going to come through 15-a-side contact rugby but it's just going to come from getting an oval ball into more young people's hands and getting them to learn the word rugby that they might have never heard before.”
For more information, including lesson plans and other teaching resources, visit the T1 Rugby page.
