The Leinster Branch launched the ‘Tackle Education’ initiative last October aiming to make the important connection between educational attainment and participation in sport and physical activity and was rolled out in Patrician College in Finglas during this year…
The ten week programme for kids from 1st to 3rd year in the school was a chance for kids to play rugby for the first time.
Over the last 10 weeks the participants trained weekly, were brought to DCU for lunch and tour and at the end of the programme went to there very first ever rugby match as Leinster played Edinburgh and got to meet with Bernard Jackman and Shane Jennings.
The programme was run in conjunction with Unidare RFC with help from Dublin City Council and the Rapid programme.
Leinster Development Officer and Tackle Education coach Jack Hanratty said how important it was to have the local club pushing this programme. He said: “It was one thing going into a school offering a sport for a certain amount of weeks, but to have a local rugby club to play for, that’s just down the road. It gives the lads so much more”.
He also went on to talk about why the programme is of huge success: “Day one was difficult, but when we ended up with a solid group of around 20 you could see how the students were improving as rugby players and maturing as people”.
The Tackle Education is a Leinster Rugby initiative which is sure to grow.
For further information please contact Jack Hanratty on 087-2112817
