Rugby
the first rugby league team from the south of England to win the prestigious Carnegie Champion Schools Cup final (played at Wembley Stadium as the curtain raiser of the Rugby League Challenge Cup final). Following this, the school won the regional cup final a staggering 21 times (split between year 7-11 boys) and remarkably they have continued to do so. Back in 2011, I realised the potential of both codes having a positive effect on each other and developed the rugby timetable to incorporate both league and union styles to be taught to all boys throughout years 7-11. The fitness, line speed and quick decision- making at the breakdown and ‘heads up’ rugby to exploit spaces (all of which are crucial to success in rugby league) have improved the boys’ abilities in rugby union. The togetherness in their defensive duties and the desire to gain every inch from each ball carry has dramatically improved with the boys playing both codes. With many of the boys beginning their rugby careers when they start in year 7, we begin our rugby lessons with a mixture of both styles. Utilising the six tackle, ‘play the ball’ rule ensures every student can focus on the fundamental skills of tackling, running lines, handling and exploiting space. The boys are not
allowed to kick in open play and we introduce the (rugby union) ruck after six weeks. All of the male PE staff at the Howard of Effingham are now qualified rugby league referees to ensure the boys are clear on the rules. The boys who are currently at the London Broncos academy assist the teachers with the extensive extra- curricular programme in place and we are fortunate that our head teacher is extremely supportive of the school’s sports programme and acknowledges the contribution both codes of rugby have on positive behaviour and the sense of pride the successes of the rugby teams bring to the whole school community. The main focus of rugby delivery is to ensure all of our students have access to a high- quality rugby provision consisting of both rugby union and rugby league. This is to ensure they gain outstanding cognitive skills, resilience, creative thinking and respect – things that they can transfer to both the classroom and as they enter adulthood. The boys work on contact and non-contact styles of play throughout the season and we are meticulous to ensure they have a minimum of 72 hours rest between games and play no more than 20 school games a season.
What are the logistics
involved and the hurdles you have had to overcome?
Nick O’Connor: The cost of transport is huge. But it is easier to take a minibus for a league fixture as we can get away with 15 lads for a league game. Of course it relies a lot on staff and this is becoming harder and harder as less teaching staff have the time, commitment or indeed inclination to participate in after-school or extra-curricular activities. Like any school, we are also under immense pressure to keep the students in lessons (probably more so for us as we are a selective grammar). Likewise there is the cost of cover if going out in lesson time (I’m a pastoral lead as well as head of rugby) so have very little teaching
commitment - hence it will usually fall to me and an intern. But I’m lucky to have a decent relationship with most staff and I’m cheeky enough to call in a few favours with non-specialist teachers when needed. Our girls’ programme is growing and I’ve two female teachers that love their rugby (one plays women’s super league) so they are happy to muck in. My involvement is more union than league. I coached on the elite pathway with Yorkshire (Leeds) Carnegie and the aspirational pathway for the county and I still select for the North of England
30 SCHOOL SPORT Issue No.81 January/February/March 2021
U18 group which again keeps up a good network. The costs of our union programme (coaches, referees, video and food etc) are covered by fundraising. Rugby league costs are minimal as the programme is significantly smaller.
Shane Birkett: There have obviously been some hurdles the school has had to overcome along their journey. To begin with, we had several parents who were unsure of the introduction of rugby league in our PE provision at the Howard. However, this soon changed with all parents now fully supportive of the rugby programme we have put in place. Another hurdle is ensuring the boys are properly prepared for the code of rugby they are playing. The three- man tackle in rugby league was our first hurdle, ensuring this did not transfer over to rugby union. In fact, it had a positive effect with the boys supporting the tackler much quicker in the union games to prevent offloads and/or quicker arrival to the ruck and therefore giving players a greater opportunity to regain possession. The focus for the game plan for the younger age groups is based on six penalty moves. This has led to fantastic patterns of play when re-starting in rugby union following a free pass from the line out, penalties or setting up a pattern of play
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