Kids from Fife enjoy a G4S Street Rugby session at Murrayfield
It’s an evening of firsts at Murrayfield on Friday as Aironi pay their inaugural visit to the national stadium.
It’s also a night for thanks, with key figures in the G4S Street Rugby programme that has played a crucial part in growing youth rugby in Fife over the last 18 months coming together as guests of Edinburgh Rugby Club and CashBack for Communities and pledging to continue their great work.
Coaches, players and parents alike will enjoy some pre-match hospitality before taking their seats for the Magners League fare.
Among the guests will be Stuart and Leigh Anne Melville and their son Liam, who have delivered G4S Street Rugby sessions around Fife for the past 18 months and have been successful in encouraging a succession of new players to join clubs such as Glenrothes, Waid, Kirkcaldy, and Fife Southern.
They were also involved in getting girls in and around the Glenrothes area to join the new team at Glenwood High School that reached the Brewin Dolphin Girls’ under-15 Shield Final at Murrayfield last month to cap a fantastic first year of existence.
Two of the Melvilles’ earliest recruits were Craig Hamilton and his dad Dave. Young Craig enjoyed his first taste of G4S Street Rugby so much that he dragged Dave out to take part, and both are now working in the community and delivering G4S Street Rugby sessions around Fife. Both are also involved in club rugby at Kirkcaldy RFC.
Edinburgh chief executive Craig Docherty said: “It’s great to be able to say thanks to the many people who have done such impressive work through the G4S Street Rugby programme.
“Hopefully by coming along to the match on Friday night and seeing guys in the Edinburgh team who were in their position not that many years ago, the kids will get an idea of the opportunities that can arise if they stick with the game.
“It will also be a chance for us to show our appreciation for the huge effort that goes in to showing these youngsters what our sport is all about.”
G4S Street Rugby, which has received a cross-party commendation at the Scottish Parliament, utilises a portion of the ‘CashBack for Communities’ funding awarded to Scottish Rugby by the Scottish Government to create an easy to play and portable version of the game to engage with young people in neighbourhoods not traditionally associated with the sport.
Working in conjunction with local police, G4S Street Rugby is targeted at less advantaged areas where crime and anti-social behaviour are high, in a bid to offer a healthy alternative at these key times.
Fancy coming along on Friday? Tickets (ANYGAME vouchers) for Edinburgh v Aironi are available HERE, by calling 0131 346 5180 or by visiting the Murrayfield Ticket Centre (just off Roseburn Street) in person.
Book before 5pm on Thursday and receive £5 off the match-day adult price.
