Saints to help S&L promote rugby in Corby

Over the next few weeks coaches from Franklin’s Gardens will be delivering sessions in a dozen junior and senior schools across Corby and the surrounding area. Youngsters in Years 5 and 6 will receive taster sessions in tag rugby, with Years 7 and 9 be coached in contact rugby.

Teams from all of the schools will also take part in festivals at S&L's Occupation Road ground, where they can put their skills into practice in matches against their peers.

“We’ve got a long association with the Saints,” said S&L chairman Adey Mitchell. “In previous years we’ve had players from the Saints coach at the club, a number of S&L players have represented the Saints at various levels and currently Connor Fleming from the Saints’ community team is our club vice-captain.

“The coaching in the Saints’ community team is of a very high standard, something you would expect from a club at the top level of English rugby, and the club has extensive experience of delivering outstanding programmes in schools, so we view it as a natural partnership to have.

"We’re an expanding club, the only club in Corby, and this programme is an integral part of our development plan.

“The Saints are our county club and we consider this partnership being a very positive development in the recruitment of new players to the sport and to S&L.”

The Try Rugby Community Programme, which kicked off last week, is a product of the Mini-Junior section and the Northampton Saints Community Department.

The club's mini-junior section and the RFU have funded the programme which is being delivered by Saints coaches over the next six weeks.

The funding will provide eight local primary and six local secondary schools with a free rugby taster session, as well as in inclusion in three festivals throughout November and December.

Some of the schools that have already began delivery with Northampton Saints are St Patricks, Little Stanion, Gretton, Brigstock, Ours Lady’s of Walshingham, Rockingham, Corby Business Academy, Lodge Park Academy, Brooke Weston, Corby Business Academy, Corby Technical School and Kingswood School.

The S&L Try Rugby Festivals will take place on Thursday, November 17 (Years 5 and 6), Friday, November 25 (Year 9) and Friday December 2 (Year 7).

To find out more about this programme email Connor Fleming from the Saints’ community department at [email protected].

And to find out more about the Saints’ school programmes, which support a range of subjects across the curriculum both in the classroom, on the pitch, and at Franklin’s Gardens, head to www.northamptonsaints.co.uk/education.