These grassroots coaching roles are hosted at local clubs Clogher Valley RFC, Enniskillen RFC and Omagh Academicals RFC and are funded in partnership with Fermanagh & Omagh District Council and Ulster Rugby. The appointed CPOs have been working hard to bring fun rugby sessions to Primary and Secondary Schools in the council area to help encourage children to come down to their local Rugby Club and get involved.
At Omagh Academicals RFC, CPO Darren McGuigan has ben delivering rugby sessions across the landscape of local primary & secondary schools and supporting the growth and development of mini and youth rugby in the club. Over the last few years, Omagh Accies have worked hard to develop opportunities young girls to play rugby, and, with the support of Darren in his role, the club is now a home for more than 80 local girls in their membership, learning and enjoying their rugby. Omagh have hosted a series of holiday camps for boys and girls in the local area and continue to find more and more ways to support their local community.
Enniskillen RFC has experienced similar success, over the last few years, in extending the reach and diversity of experience on offer at the club. Alongside a now province leading youth girls programme and established mini and boys youth rugby sections, Enniskillen has, in the last few years developed an inclusive rugby section for participants with a disability named the ‘SKINCLUSIONS’. The programme continues go from strength to strength, and both Ulster Rugby and Fermanagh & Omagh District Council are both proud to support this venture.
At Clogher Valley RFC, local CPO, Luke Russell has been delivering sessions to a number of new schools and are having some great success seeing the young players engaging and having fun. Luke, who is in his first year in the role, said;
“For me, the best part is seeing the kids who have never played before have success, running past a defender or making a tackle. The spark in their eye and growing confidence is special. Its awesome being able to use rugby to provide kids an opportunity to get this feeling of success,”.
Working with a focus on delivering to and engaging U14 pupils, the club plan to host a Mini Blitz to further the players experience of the game and enable them to become more involved at the club and join the team.
Ulster Rugby and its partner clubs at Clogher Valley RFC, Enniskillen RFC and Omagh Academicals RFC would like to extend our thanks to Fermanagh & Omagh Council for backing the programme, without whom, all of this good work would not be possible.
