Rugby in schools in Leeds, and I expect other areas, especially at Primary level is dependant very much on the attitude of the school and the staff who work there. I spend a couple of lunchtimes a week coaching Y4-6 boys and girls contact rugby league. We do some tag in PE, enter Leeds Rugby FOundation, Leeds and Hunslet Schools Rugby and school sports partnership competitions both for tag and contact. Not one other member of staff in my school has an interest in rugby. I've taken a few to games but they are never going to want to go regularly. If I left tomorrow, all the extra curricular rugby would stop.
There are more schools playing rugby league in Leeds than there were 2 years ago, it is growing quickly and some competitions are fully subscribed. However, it is still less than 20%. Looking at it another way, some schools in our area can't field a football team (7 lads to kick a ball around - can't be true!) and it purely down to the will of the staff.
Leeds Rugby Foundation used to target specific schools and do in to do a coaching block - this was often focused around clubs where camps were taking place. With the sports premium money schools have received they have now set up packages schools can buy in and again, they were over subscribed and have had to take on extra staff. They do a bloody marvellous job. In the 9 years I've worked at my place we've had one offer of free coaching from the RFU and one from the Rhinos. If all this central funding is providing schools with great opportunities to access RFU coaches I'm yet to see it.
The opportunities are there with Leeds to provide great opportunities for kids, but there has to be a member of staff willing to give up their time to do it. Without getting into a debate about teachers, finding that time isn't easy and my life would be a lot easier if I didn't do it. But I love it, so I carry on.
The game as a whole could learn a lot from the systems Leeds have put in place around the city.
