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Schools Rugby Champions INTRODUCTION In June 2010 Scottish Rugby announced that it had surpassed its strategic target to grow its playing base by over 50%, two years ahead of schedule, pointing to the steady recovery of extra-curricular state school rugby as key to rugby’s increasing popularity. This positive trend has continued over the past year with a further increase in registered youth (club and school) players of 15% in 2011.
This growth is thanks in part to the successful Rugby Champions initiative, which last season saw 264 state secondary schools register a ‘Rugby Champion’ to be their school’s key point of contact with development staff, and the driving force for developing rugby in their school. BACKGROUND Scottish Rugby recognises the valuable contribution that teachers have made for many years, and continue to make, in supporting, organising and coaching rugby in schools across Scotland. Therefore, in 2008-09 Scottish Rugby launched the Schools Rugby Champions initiative. Our aim being to identify, recruit, support and reward a suitable member of staff in each state secondary school in Scotland, to act as the Champion for Rugby in that school, and help us ‘grow the game’ in communities across the country so that more young people can enjoy the benefits that involvement in rugby brings. Each Rugby Champion receives a package of incentives including branded clothing and equipment, as well as the support of local and regional development staff, as they progress towards the Bronze, Silver and Gold awards. These awards reflect the level of rugby participation they have achieved in their schools and the valued service they provide to the local rugby community.
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