Yesterday the Titans Community Foundation held the first Rotherham Schools Festival at Thomas Rotherham College. Over 80 players from Years 10 and 11 arrived, from 7 of our local secondary schools, and every team got to play around 40 minutes of rugby for the first time in over 18 months.
Our TCF players, Callum Bustin, Jamie Cooke and Alastair Donkor refereed the matches and some excellent skills and great sportsmanship was on display.
Steve Salvin, Head Coach, came into the TCF last season to develop our secondary provision beyond the Thomas Rotherham College Academy programme, linked to colleges and universities to ensure a through-plan for rugby in Rotherham - The Rotherham Rugby Pathway - after cuts in provision by the RFU due to Covid and funding issues. This is just one step in that programme.
Speaking after the match he said
“It was a fantastic event and the first of many. On to the Y9’s next week!”
Despite the Covid restrictions, the TCF have been in schools since last September, with a break due to lockdown from January through to Easter. After Easter 2021 the demand from schools was huge with schools wanting to get children more active, to offset the effects of lockdown and focus on a more healthy lifestyle.
They have worked with over 1000 children and delivered 1400 hours of coaching and support. Check out below exactly what has been achieved through YOUR support for our SquadBuilder and through other fundraising:
