GBWR are excited to announce the relaunch of its new junior programme in partnership with Northampton Saints.
After launching the previous junior programme back in 2015, Northampton Saints Wheelchair Rugby Club have built a very successful junior session off the back of the launch with 14 junior players playing regularly since 2018. Therefore, who better to relaunch the new GBWR junior programme in partnership with!
Northampton Saints Inclusion Officer, Jamie Higgins, will be leading the programme with the aim to develop more provision for classifiable junior players within the game.
“Following the return to play after COVID-19, there has been a gap in the development of juniors within wheelchair rugby. After seeing the success of Northampton Saints Wheelchair Rugby Club’s own junior sessions, it will be great to see how they can help grow the junior programme nationally and help more GBWR clubs provide activity and get more junior players involved.”
Jamie Higgins, Northampton Saints Inclusion Officer said;
“As inclusion officer at Northampton Saints I am passionate about sport for all, and we really bring that passion into our junior wheelchair rugby club. We first started our junior sessions in 2018 but had to rebuild that engagement after the pandemic due to numbers dropping off. Our junior numbers are back up, but until now we have had little to engage young players in outside of club sessions.
Jamie went on to say;
“We recognise that junior players across all clubs need a focus for their wheelchair rugby outside of club training sessions and that these young players are the future of the sport. What better way is there to support the growth of junior wheelchair rugby than to work in partnership with the sport’s governing body. We are delighted to be starting this partnership and seeing the future of the sport’s growth nationally.”
As part of the relaunch of the programme a festival for junior players aged 8 – 17 years will be held at Lodge Park Sports Centre, Corby between 10am – 2:00pm on Saturday 18 March 2023.
If you are a junior player looking to get involved in the festival or wheelchair rugby, or a club wanting to start junior provision, please contact Jamie at Jamie.higgins@gbwr.org.uk
