Matchday programme: Bristol Bears vs Harlequins - Play-Off Semi-Final

PROJECT RUGBY
TAKES CENTRE
STAGE AT THE GATE
‘Tackling Health’
takes over
Ashton Gate
Community Foundation Coach, Rich Hynes
on the progress of Project Rugby:
Tuesday 25th May, Ashton Gate 3pm.
Glorious spring sunshine, cool drinks, and
suntan lotion all round? Nope – torrential
rain and wind with an occasional lukewarm
coffee was the order of the day. Did it stop
us? Absolutely not.
Project Rugby’s annual celebration at
Ashton Gate rolled into action once again
to showcase the skills of the young players
who have contributed massively to another
hugely successful year. Students from
Broadlands Academy, Fairfield School,
Ashton Park and St Katherine’s combined
to see over 50 young people taking part,
with many not having touched a rugby ball
six weeks ago. Thanks to their engagement
over the six weeks and the amazing
support of the teaching staff these young
people have experienced playing sport in a
premiership environment and loved every
minute of it.
Project Rugby has navigated its way
through COVID under a huge cloud of
uncertainty to produce its most successful
season to date. How do we measure
success? Officially its based on the number
of young people who join their local
rugby club as a result of taking part in the
sessions. This year that number currently
stands at 13, with several other waiting in
the wings to join when clubs restart for
pre-season.
Unofficially? Smiles, laughter, fun,
inclusion, and the positivity shown by all
in attendance would suggest the impact
of rugby has been huge. We believe our
sport stands alone because of its core
values: Teamwork, Respect, Enjoyment,
Discipline & Sportsmanship, and everyone
who took part in the event showed this
in abundance. ‘Bound to say that you
are doing the coaching’ might well be a
response – so let us prove it. Project Rugby
WILL return in September. If you would like
your school or rugby club to be involved,
please get in touch – IT’S ALL FREE. You can
help us inspire our community to unlock
potential and improve lives.
Rich Hynes
rhynes@bristolbearsrugby.com
Children from local primary schools
gathered at Ashton Gate Stadium to take
part in the latest Tackling Health festival as
part of our Celebration of Sport event.
The much scaled down event, due to
pandemic restrictions, didn’t dampen the
spirits of those who attended, although the
weather nearly did.
Community Coach, Jake Ellis said: “It was
great to see children celebrating their
engagement and rugby development by
playing fixtures at the home of Bristol
Bears.
“It was clear that everyone enjoyed the
chance to get out of their classrooms
and schools after so many restrictions in
recent times, and we hope to see children
and their families supporting the Bears
from the stand sometime soon.
“The programme not only introduces
children to tag rugby, it also highlights
the importance of diet and exercise to our
health and wellbeing as well as the lives of
professional rugby players. Who knows, we
may even see some of the children playing
for the Bears in years to come.”
Premiership Rugby’s Tackling Health
programme is an interactive project for
children aged seven to eight which takes
a holistic approach to teaching children
about their own health, wellbeing and
about leading a healthy lifestyle with a
rugby focus.
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Delivered nationally by Premiership Rugby
clubs across England, and in partnership
with the Greggs Foundation, the key
aims of the project are to improve young
people’s understanding of what constitutes
healthy eating and a healthy diet and to
increase levels of physical activity. The
programme see’s Bristol Bears Community
Foundation staff deliver up to six weeks of
classroom and practical sessions with the
chance for schools to join us for regular
festivals.
Thanks to all who participated, not least
the teachers and adults that supported
getting children to the stadium.
For more information about the
programme as well as other primary
school provision on offer from the Bristol
Bears Community Foundation, please email
ccapel@bristolbearsrugby.com
BRISTOL BEARS VS HARLEQUINS | 2020/21 BRISTOL BEARS VS HARLEQUINS | 2020/21