Donegal Primary Schools' Mini Rugby Festival

The schools were invited to take part in the programme designed to help school make the step from TAG rugby to the contact game. The players and teachers on the day thoroughly enjoyed the new experience and are looking forward to more rugby in the future.
The programme has been delivered by Donegal Project YDO's Philip Brady, Johnny Quigley and Adam Keys and has aimed to increase the confidence in schools to take the easy step towards the contact side of the game. The games on display still highlight that 70% of the game is still about the running, evasions and passing evident in TAG and the only new skills developed are the tackle which is the one most enjoyed by the young rugby players.

Mini rugby in the county is continuing to go from strength to strength with six clubs now providing rugby for the U7 to U12 age group. All training sessions are on Saturday mornings as follows; Donegal Town train at the club 10-11am; Ballyshannon at the lakeside 10-11am; Finn Valley at St Columbas College 10-11am; Tir Chonaill at Carrickfinn 10-11am; Inishowen at Carndonagh CS 10-11am and Letterkenny 9.30-10.30 at Dave Gallagher Memorial Park. All newcomers to the game are welcome and also parents who wish to get involved as volunteers for mini rugby, IRFU Mini Rugby courses will follow in May.

Next year it is hoped that more primary schools in Donegal will look to take the step to Mini rugby for Girls and Boys and any schools that would like to avail of the coaching support should contact the Donegal Project at www.donegalcomunityrugby.com.

Thanks once again to the schools and teachers involved in the programme and also Letterkenny RFC for the use of their facilities.