2


| NEWS | PAINT IT MAC – BULLS BRUSH WITH GREATNESS


England coach Steve McNamara took time out from his Rugby League World Cup preparation to visit his former Community Club, Skirlaugh Bulls, and lend his support to the launch of the 2013 ‘Engage With Your Club’ initiative.


McNamara has given his backing to the grass roots volunteering initiative which is run in partnership by Rugby League Cares and Engage Mutual.


The aim of ‘Engage With Your Club’ is to help amateur clubs affordably improve their facilities and attract more volunteers by holding action events.


‘This is a fantastic initiative, it provides people the opportunity to engage with their clubs and improve the facilities.’ said McNamara (pictured centre).


‘Volunteers are the lifeblood of the sport, without them Rugby League wouldn’t exist, not just at amateur level but professional too.’


WOOD HAILS SEASON TO SAVOUR


RFL Chief Executive Nigel Wood believes the 2013 season is developing into the most compelling and memorable year across all competitions since the sport switched to summer in 1996.


With more unpredictability of outcome than ever before in both Super League and the Kingstone Press Championships, and winning margins at historically low levels, 2013 is already becoming a year to remember.


The emergence of the new Championship One clubs has also given the sport a vibrant new geographical footprint, which is already seeing awareness of the skilful and exciting nature of Rugby League reach previously untold levels.


‘The Good Friday programme demonstrated why Rugby League is the best team sport in the world,’ said Wood.


‘The skills on show in both Super League and the Kingstone Press Championships were simply outstanding.


‘The average winning margin in Super League and the Championships was less than 10 points, when we have witnessed what in the past might have been considered surprise results. That is no longer the case.


‘The result at Headingley Carnegie Stadium offered further evidence that the 2013 Super League season is tighter than it has ever been – the 18-18 draw between Leeds Rhinos and Bradford Bulls was the seventh occasion that the spoils have been shared this year.’


Only one Super League season – 2003, when eight matches were tied – has seen more draws and 2013 has already equalled the season total for 2011, when the seventh draw came in Round 17.


The Kingstone Press Championships and Northern Rail Cup have proved equally unpredictable, with evidence that the sport is entering a bold new chapter in its history.


London Skolars have already qualified for the first final in their history and are likely to be joined by North Wales Crusaders in the fixture’s inaugural outing at Halifax.


‘The entry of Hemel Stags, University of Gloucestershire All Golds and Oxford has reinvigorated Championship One and the early indications are positive,’ added Wood.


‘I have no doubts that the chance to be involved in the Rugby League World Cup 2013 is inspiring players across Super League and that tournament is critical to the sport’s long-term success.


This is the third year the initiative has been run and follows a successful 2012 which saw 900 people volunteering more than 3,600 hours in total.


James Ogden, community activation manager at Engage Mutual added, ‘We introduced this initiative during our seven years as Super League sponsor and the overwhelming feedback from those that have previously taken part is that the action events create a huge amount of value particularly in the overall pride for their club.’


Amongst the impressive list of activities undertaken was the installation of pitch barriers, painting of clubhouses and changing rooms, as well as improvement of the land and general areas surrounding clubhouses and grounds.


Clubs can register and receive further information by visiting www.engagemutual.com/rugby


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16