Dundonald PS and St Joseph's PS (Ballyhackamore) are celebrating after winning the Civil Service (NI) Rugby Club Primary Schools Touch Rugby tournaments for girls and boys.
The girls' tournament was held at the Ballybeen Sports and Wellness Hub while the boys battled it out at The Blanchflower Stadium. Both competitions hosted eight primary schools competing with almost 100 girls and boys attending each event.
The tournaments were run as the culmination of Civil Service (NI) Rugby Club’s youth rugby development programme. Throughout the 2021-22 season Civil Service Rugby provided six-week rugby coaching programmes, free of charge, to P6 and P7 children in Braniel, Brooklands Dundonald, Gilnahirk, Lisnasharragh, Knocknagoney St Joseph's and Victoria Park Primary Schools.
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Stan Cinnamond, Club Community Rugby Officer for Civil Service (NI) Rugby Club, who delivered the rugby sessions said: "The programme has been designed to play rugby in a fun environment to see if the children enjoyed it.
"If they do, then there is a supportive pathway for them to play mini and youth rugby at Civil Service (NI) Rugby Club at Stormont"
Civil Service (NI) Rugby Club has coached nearly 1800 children from P6, P7, Y8, Y9 and Y10 in schools throughout South and East Belfast during the season. This has led to approx 175 children attending rugby programmes at Stormont in the 2021/22 season with the club establishing an U12 boys development squad, U12 girls and boys squads and U14 and U16 boys squads from scratch in one season.
Next year Civil Service (NI) Rugby Club hope to expand their youth rugby development programme throughout the schools in East and South Belfast and to provide more opportunities at Civil Service (NI) Rugby Club for both boys and girls to play club rugby at the fantastic facilities and sports grounds at Stormont.
Phil Kennedy, Youth Rugby Convenor at Civil Service (NI) Rugby Club, who oversees the development of all youth rugby within the club added: "We are both overwhelmed and delighted with the extraordinary uptake of rugby within our re-established youth rugby section last season.
"We have a great team of coaches that have supported the newly set up teams throughout the season and we openly welcome any other children who wish to play either mini rugby or play for the U12, U14 or U16 teams next season, regardless of experience."
Phil Anderson, Club Chairman, who has steered the club through this period of growth and development said: "As a club we took the decision to invest heavily in youth to ensure the club’s continuity in what was our 100th year as a rugby club.
"It has clearly paid off last season and we hope that this will eventually result in the growth of our senior section which currently runs two teams in the Ulster leagues on Saturdays.
"Any children (Y8-Y14) that are interested in trying rugby with our Youth section should contact Arthur Kerr at arthur.kerr1959@googlemail.com tel: 07888738238.
"Youth rugby training will restart week beginning Monday, August 8. Any children(P1 to P7) wishing to try mini rugby should contact Alan Wilson at wilsy3@hotmail.com tel 07884 367972.
"For those adults who are interested in either trying rugby for the first time or returning to rugby then they can contact Michael Curran on miccurran50@gmail.com tel: 07393351309. Alternatively, you can turn up to the Open Day on August 6 and you will be more than welcome."
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