Edinburgh and the Lothians were braced for a December to remember by the Edinburgh Rugby squad who dispersed among the region’s clubs and schools in a mass communuity rugby day today.
Just four days before the club return to Murrayfield to take on Aironi, around 40 players set off in all directions to help deliver coaching and skills clinics and Q&As throughout the day to more than 600 youngsters at 11 different clubs and schools.
The players were also out in force to drum up support for this weekend’s match against Aironi and put a final push on the free child and adult ticket combo offer for every person under 18 that signs up to the free junior supporters’ club, Edinburgh Crew (www.edinburghcrew.co.uk) by tomorrow Tuesday (at 5pm).
The Aironi game is the first in a massive month for Edinburgh Rugby who follow up the match with a Heineken Cup double header against Cardiff Blues – to which a family of four (two adults and two children) can attend at Murrayfield for just £25. The club then go toe-to-toe with rivals Glasgow Warriors for the first leg of the 1872 Cup derby at Murrayfield on Boxing Day.
>> Click here to buy tickets in a December to remember
Speaking after a Q&A and sign-a-long with primary school kids from Sciennes Primary School, Edinburgh Rugby scrum-half, Mike Blair, said: “We had our biggest crowd of the season at our recent Heineken Cup win over Racing Metro which was tremendous, especially towards the end when the supporters willed the boys on for a great win. The standing area really came into its own that night.
“It’s important to give something back and show our appreciation by getting out to local clubs and schools and meeting some of the young rugby players in the region and spreading the word about these great offers.”
To secure the two free tickets, any under 18 needs to sign up as a member (for free) to the club’s junior supporters’ club, Edinburgh Crew (www.edinburghcrew.co.uk) and then register for the tickets by emailing admin@edinburghcrew.co.uk.
As well as this great offer, Edinburgh Crew members are invited to a pre-match Christmas party with the club’s mascot Flinty McStag this Friday.
All of the clubs and schools visited benefit from the rugby development partnership between Scottish Rugby, Local Authorities and Active Schools, which sees regular rugby sessions delivered in and around the area.
Scottish Rugby Regional development manager for Edinburgh and Midlothain, Greg Cann, added: “Having the Edinburgh Rugby players out at clubs and schools across the region is huge for their young supporters.
“It makes a massive difference to the youngsters who will get to meet, question and take tips from some of their favourite rugby players, just days before they watch them run out on the Murrayfield pitch.
“It’s a real inspiration to the kids and will undoubtedly encourage them to develop their interest and skills in rugby further and hopefully get more of them down to recreate the great crowd at Murrayfield a fortnight ago.”
In keeping with the rugby development initiatives, the players and coaches will underline the importance of leading a healthy active lifestyle while also engaging the youngsters with the fun elements of team sport.
Club and schools on the community day - Queensferry Primary School, Liberton High School, George Heriot’s School (two events), Craigmount High School (two events), Royal High School (two events), Trinity Academy, Broughton High School, Sciennes Primary School (three events) , Forrester rugby club (two events) , Murrayfield Wanderers, Simpson Primary School
