Bath Rugby Foundation’s Project Rugby programme had a hugely successful Term 1 of the academic year with 537 boys and girls given an introduction to the sport. 

Project Rugby is a joint initiative between Premiership Rugby and England Rugby and aims to increase participation in the game by people from traditionally underrepresented groups. 

During Term 1 of the 2019/20 academic year, Bath Rugby Foundation delivered in every secondary school in B&NES, bar one.

To celebrate the term, a festival was held at The Rec for all the schools our coaches worked with over a six-week period.

In term 1 we had a festival for all the schools we worked with over a 6-week period, including local SEND schools. The festival had different stations to help test the school’s abilities as well as to show how far they have come a short time.

A key aim of Project Rugby is to provide a route from starting rugby with a first session with our coaches in schools all the way to joining a rugby club. During Term 1 we introduced 33 girls to training with Bath Ladies.

The Rugby X event at the O2 in London was an opportunity to take seven Project Rugby participants to see a high-profile, exciting rugby event in the capital. The participants spent the day in London walking around the Olympic Park and trying out the challenges, before heading to Rugby X. It was an amazing experience and all the participants loved the trip as well as loved meeting new people from different schools and bonding over rugby.  

Bath Rugby gifted Bath Rugby Foundation a total of 150 tickets to the team’s first home match of the season against Worcester, which the Foundation used to enhance the Project Rugby participants’ first experiences with the sport, offering tickets as rewards for hard work and progression. The day was boosted by a good performance by Bath Rugby and a victory!

Hayesfield and St Marks are both two female school groups who the Project Rugby teams have worked with in Term 1 who came together to play against each other in a match of touch rugby. The competitive fixture provided great experience for both the girls who took part and the coaches who have seen the participants grow in confidence since their first sessions.

Learn more about Project Rugby