School Rugby Managers helping rugby go from strength to strength in schools
To support the growth of rugby in schools, the RFU has established a network of School Rugby Managers (SRMs) who work with schools in their area to embed rugby into the curriculum and strengthen links with local rugby clubs.
Across the country, 40 SRMs have helped children and young people from primary and secondary schools get involved in playing T1 Rugby.
The SRMS are in place to help introduce new state schools to rugby, with the RFU target of introducing 5,000 new state primary and secondary schools to the sport by 2027.
One of those SRMs is Wayne Clark, based in Wolverhampton. Since starting the role, Wayne in partnership with the School Sports Partnership has:
· Run courses for new primary school teachers
· Organised a T1 Rugby Megafest attended by 25 primary schools and 250 young people
· Delivered an event for over 100 Year 7 girls who had never played rugby before
· Begun implementing a young leaders’ course
With 25 years of experience coaching in schools, Wayne also serves as Wolverhampton’s strategic lead for girls’ football.
Speaking on the success of the initiative, Wayne said: “T1 really works. It’s fresh and the CPD opportunities for schools is great. We are upskilling teachers to be able to deliver themselves, which makes the whole thing sustainable.
“We’ve created festival and competition opportunities and have created a really strong link with Wolverhampton Rugby Club who are really on board. There has been so many positives and no negatives really!”
To create opportunities across both Primary, Special and Secondary schools, we have built strong relationships with National Organisations, School Games Organisers, and attended local primary and secondary PE network meetings through ConnectEd Partnership, where we can engage with all schools across the city.
He added: “In discussion with SGOs we identified schools who struggle to take part in festivals and competitions and contacting these schools and working with them we were able to engage.
“Setting up meetings with the schools directly has enabled the response to be really positive. The schools get equipment and training to set them up, and we’ve had a number of schools request to be involved next year.
"As a partnership, we are working with a local Special School to develop a curriculum approach to Table Invasion Games which use the activities of Rugby. This initiative allows young people who are unable to play the sport in a local community environment to engage with and enjoy the game as part of their PE lessons."
Wayne’s work is just one examples of how SRMs are creating lasting opportunities for young people to engage with rugby, ensuring the sport is accessible, inclusive, and embedded in schools across the country.
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