This morning our Community department took a break from delivering in the cold weather and paid one of our partner schools Keble Prep a visit.
Community Development Manager Matt Cuss, presented the morning assembly where he spoke with the children about Rugby League and its origins, London Rugby League and opportunities to watch live matches, famous players who have played both codes and finally about how the young boys themselves could get involved in London Skolars Minis and Juniors in the coming months.
Keble are one of London Skolars partner schools and have benefited from delivery by London Skolars team of Community Coaches over the past few years. As a school Keble have a strong history of producing some outstanding young rugby players who then go on to play outside of school, in many local Rugby Union clubs and of course here at London Skolars.
Their rugby prowess has earnt them a place at the PCUBED Schools Challenge on Friday and they will be expected to push for the title. Community Development Manager Matt Cuss commented on the assembly ‘it was a great break for myself from delivery to go and speak to the young boys at Keble today, we spoke about Rugby League and it’s origin’s, what a typical Rugby League player possesses talent wise, the boys named many players who have played Rugby League in the past and now play or coach Rugby Union and they were interested to find out the stories of their development and pathway between the two codes. We also spoke at length about Sam Burgess and showed a fantastic video that highlighted what a fantastic athlete he is, this proved to be the highlight of the assembly, with many of the boys gasping as some of his big hits were shown.’
Cuss continued ‘whilst many of these boys play Rugby Union on a regular basis, it was great to show the links that Rugby League has with the sport, and how the two can work in tandem together to develop young rugby players in this country.’
Head of Boy’s PE at Keble, Scott Turner does a fantastic job every year in facilitating coaching between ourselves and Keble, and he is a massive promoter of Rugby League to the boys, he sees the benefit of children playing both codes and our Summer Rugby programme which kicks off in March enables the boys to do that.
Skolars will be hopeful to see many of the boys who were present today head to New River on Saturday 30th January for the Mini’s and Juniors Registration Day, which will give players the opportunity to meet coaches and players and train before taking in the big ‘London Clash’ between ourselves and Broncos which kicks off at 3pm.
