Street Rugby will run through the summer for young people aged 11 – 18 years old, over a 12 week period. It will take place in Bryn Gwalia, Mold; Higher Shotton; and Holywell, and involves structured sessions each week in each area, using sport as a tool to educate through learning key team values and disciplines from expert coaches.
As well as Rugby League, training sessions also include fitness elements, boxercise and rugby football to add variety and keep the interest of the young people taking part.
The Flintshire programme is a partnership between Wales Rugby League; national charity organisation Street Games; Flintshire Community Safety Partnership; Flintshire Sports Development; Flintshire’s Youth Justice Service; Bryn Gwalia, Higher Shotton and Holywell Communities First; North Wales Police; North Wales Fire and Rescue Service; Flintshire Neighbourhood Watch Association, and Tesco, Holywell, and all will be involved in taking Street Rugby to the three areas of the county over the summer.
Every four weeks the areas will come together and play in a structured Street Rugby festival, where they play and compete in a street rugby league table, which also means they have a goal to work towards.
In terms of competition, there is a criteria to ensure that similar skill levels and ages are set against each other sensibly, for the safety and enjoyment of all. The competitions vary from tag rugby, to ‘grapple’, to full contact.
There are opportunities for everyone to go on coaching courses, referees courses and further event opportunities through the volunteers programme.
Wales Rugby League North Wales Development Officer, Matthew Pritchard, said:
“The Street Rugby programme goes where there is a clear need and this is highlighted by the partners involved. We had a fantastic launch recently, where all the partners came together, and the president of Wales Rugby League, Mike Nicholas, gave a speech to start the occasion off.
“This programme shows a clear multi agency approach, bringing all partners together to work towards common goals; working hard to provide fantastic opportunities in the three areas. Essentially Street Rugby means non traditional clubs without a club house. It’s right on your doorstep and there are additional opportunities for adults and the young people to go on courses and to develop themselves.”
Ian Vaughan-Evans, Flintshire County Council’s Interim Public Protection Manager, said:
“Flintshire Community Safety Partnership is fully supportive of the Street Rugby initiative, which offers many benefits to young people. Street Rugby has been a great success in other areas of Wales and I’m sure this will be replicated in Flintshire.”
Paul Whybro, North Wales Fire and Rescue Service’s Community Safety Manager for Wrexham and Flintshire, said:
“We at North Wales Fire and Rescue Service are always keen to engage with our community, and the Street Rugby scheme allows us to connect with our young people.
“Reducing fire deaths and injuries in the region is more than just providing an efficient emergency response service – by working with these youngsters we are able to educate them about the importance of fire safety and the consequences of deliberate fires and hoax calls.
“This is not only a diversionary tactic to engage young people but it is also an opportunity for them to demonstrate and develop skills which may provide career opportunities in the future and encourage an interest in keeping fit.”
