Project Rugby enters its third year

By Flo Eggins

26/09/2019

The Exeter Chiefs Community department have recently started the Project Rugby programme for the third year and are aiming to work with over 1,300 people over the course of the delivery. 

Project Rugby is run by Premiership Rugby in partnership with England Rugby and Gallagher and aims to increase participation in rugby from traditionally underrepresented groups including people from low socio-economic backgrounds, disabled people and black, Asian and other ethnic minorities. 

The programme will be led by Assistant Community Development Manager Richard Bright, who will be assisted by coaches Tom Steer and Dom Thorne. The Project Rugby sessions will be delivered at schools and organisations across the South West, with the team aiming to give over 1,300 people the opportunity to play rugby. From this, the goal is to encourage as many participants as possible to join local rugby clubs. 

Richard Bright is looking forward to another season of Project Rugby, and believes it has the potential to make a massive difference in people's lives, as well as benefiting grass-roots rugby. He said: "Project Rugby is a great initiative to increase participation. The way it runs allows you to work around some of the barriers which may prevent people joining a club. Our coaches will be working with participants for up to 12 weeks, so hopefully this will build their confidence enough to want to join a club and continue playing rugby."

For more information about Project Rugby and how your school or organisation can get involved, please contact Richard Bright at richardbright@exeterchiefs.co.uk