Sunderland schoolchildren give rugby a try

A total of 240 participants from 20 primary schools and 10 secondary schools across the city took part in a special rugby skills event at Silksworth Community Pool, Tennis and Wellness Centre on Tuesday 15 October.

The children all took part in skill-based games and activities focusing on skills like agility and throwing and catching, as Active Sunderland is working to encourage more schools, clubs and communities to take up the sport ahead of the Women's Rugby World Cup coming to the city next year.

Sunderland City Council's Cabinet Member for Communities, Culture and Tourism, Councillor Beth Jones, said: "I'm delighted to see so many children getting active and learning physical skills as well as valuable communication and teamwork. As the city is getting ready to host England's Red Roses for the opening match of the Women's Rugby World Cup at the Stadium of Light, it's wonderful to see so many young people taking an interest in the sport.

"I hope that more people will be inspired to give it a go as we look forward to the tournament, and there are plenty of opportunities to get involved. The city council is working alongside community rugby clubs to offer something for everyone, from girls' rugby to walking rugby and a variety of fitness sessions, so there's never been a better time to give rugby a try."

The Active Sunderland Rugby Skills Event was supported by The Newcastle Falcons, who brought touch rugby activities for the schoolchildren to try. The focus of the day was learning new skills and taking part in physical activity, but children who demonstrated skills like teamwork and leadership received awards for their efforts.

A legacy programme taking place around the World Cup is designed to get more people playing rugby and encourage more women and girls to take up the sport. Active Sunderland is creating new opportunities for communities to take part in recreational rugby activities and recently five sets of junior rugby posts have popped up located at Commercial Road, Barnes Park, Success Road, Princess Anne Park and Shipwrights Playing Fields with exciting programmes to be announced.

The draw for the Women's Rugby World Cup 2025 will take place on Thursday, 17 October, with the match schedule set to be released on Tuesday 22 October.

The draw will be broadcast live on BBC's The One Show, one of the UK's most-watched primetime programmes, airing from 19:00 (GMT +1). This marks a key milestone for the tournament, set to be the largest sporting event in England in 2025.

To find out more or see opportunities to get into rugby, visit https://www.mysunderland.co.uk/rugby