Secondary Schools Go Mad for Rugby League!

Hundreds of children from across North Yorkshire have experienced playing rugby league recently, thanks to York RLFC’s Foundation!

The Foundation co-ordinated the annual North Yorkshire “Inspired by 9’s” secondary school boys tournaments, featuring schools competing in the RFL competition.

The Foundation has managed secondary school competitions for nearly 20 years and routinely organises a minimum of two rounds of festivals per year group, for both boys and girls.

This year’s festivals saw more than 450 boys participate across five events, with almost a dozen schools entering at least one festival from across North Yorkshire.

“Inspired By 9s” is one of the more recent additions to the school's calendar. It’s designed to encourage emerging schools in the secondary sector to increase participation in rugby league. Here in North Yorkshire, we open the festivals up to all secondary-aged year groups, with the winners of Years 7 and 8 given an opportunity to progress and join teams from outside the region.

Schools from across North Yorkshire entered teams into these festivals, from as far away as Knaresborough, Boroughbridge, and Selby, alongside a strong representation from schools in York. We are always open to new schools joining from North Yorkshire and helping grow the game.

York RLFC Delivery Manager Adam Prentis said: "The Foundation continues to grow schools’ delivery by receiving entries from secondary schools across North Yorkshire.

“The tournament provides a fantastic opportunity for boys and girls at secondary school to participate, represent their school and play with their school friends.

“For some, playing in the festival will be their first experience of playing contact Rugby League and an ideal introduction to the sport.

"The modified rules allow newcomers to quickly adapt and enjoy contact rugby league in this simplified format. We also offer free teachers’ courses to secondary school teachers to help share our ideas on how to make rugby inclusive, safe and fun for all.

“With the success of both the Knights and Valkyrie in recent times, plus the community game continually taking strides forward, we have taken the chance to establish a growing reputation within a wide collective of secondary schools.

"Many of the players involved are already playing at community clubs, but it is hoped that the newcomers will continue to take part in rugby league outside of school.

“This, combined with Head of Rugby Development at York RLFC, Andrew Henderson, leading the Excel Player Development Pathways for boys, alongside the efforts to support the Girls' Programme, highlights significant progress.”

The next Secondary School 9s Festival, organised by York RLFC Foundation, will be the girls' festivals and is open to School Years 7-11 in North Yorkshire.

For more information about playing Rugby League outside of school, including details of our Boys’ Excel Player Development programme, please contact a.prentis@yorkrlfc.com or call 01904 670880 and ask for the Foundation team.