COMMUNITY TEAM

LEICESTER TIGERS COMMUNITY TEAM

SUPPORTING TIGERS’ COMMUNITY PROGRAMME

PROJECT RUGBY ACTS AS APPETISER TO A RETURN TO THE COMMUNITY GAME

Tigers players Joe Heyes, Jaco Taute, Jack Van Poortvliet and Johnny McPhillips have shared their experiences of rugby with young players as part of the club’s Project Rugby at Home initiative.

In partnership with Premiership Rugby and league title partner Gallagher, the Tigers hosted a series of Zoom calls during last week with young players at four local clubs. It gave the next generation of rugby talent an opportunity to engage with the game despite current restrictions and also increase their enthusiasm ahead of a return to training and playing shortly.

As restrictions begin to ease, Project Rugby will also look to continue its wider-reaching rugby programme, which aims to increase participation and opportunities for youngsters from under-represented backgrounds.

Players from Oadby Wyggestonian, South Leicester, Leicester Forest and Nottingham Moderns clubs had the chance to put their questions to the Tigers quartet, with subjects including why they chose the path of professional rugby, how they moved from local club to the professional game and some training and nutrition tips, as well as favourite playing memories, best friends in the game and their plans for the future.

Jaco - who gave up his time to join the call on the morning of his birthday - described coming through the ranks in South Africa and his subsequent move to Europe, while Jack reflected on growing up in Norfolk before joining the Tigers Academy and breaking into the first team.

Johnny and Joe both talked about switching their focus to rugby after playing a lot of football in their younger years, and Joe spoke to Moderns about his own route from that club into the Tigers Academy and beyond.

Whatever their route to professional rugby, all four said the most important part of the game was enjoying it, playing alongside your mates and focusing on the basic skills to grow and develop as a player and a person.

Tigers rugby development officers Steve Hanna and Laurence Walters, from the club’s community team, led the question-and-answer sessions as the young club players are now able to start thinking about getting back on the field.

For more info on the pathway, visit www.englandrugby.com