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Dozens of school children had a fantastic time as didi rugby held its first schools tag festival in Leicestershire thanks to great support from Hinckley & Bosworth School Sport and Physical Activity Network (HBSSPAN).

Having formed strong links with Hinckley & Bosworth Borough Council, the event was set-up by didi rugby and HBSSPAN to promote fun and activity for Year 1 and 2 school children in the area.

didi rugby CEO Vicky Macqueen said events like this were a natural progression as the company began delivering classes at more and more schools in the area.

HBSSPAN’s School Games Organiser, Steph Tirrell was behind her organisation’s part in the day, which took place at Hinckley Rugby Club – a didi partner club.

“It has been a brilliant day and it is so nice to see children enjoying themselves and playing rugby, which is what we want,” said Vicky.

“Today is about the transition from didi rugby to tag rugby with lots of former and current didi players taking part and their little brothers and sisters watching them.

“I have seen lots of kids who used to go to didi rugby when they were a year or two younger and it has made my heart melt seeing them do so well.

Parents Chaminda Janaka and Nishita Kumara have spoken about what a ‘great bonding experience’ didi rugby is for their family.

Both parents have been actively involved in bringing eldest Suraj (7) and youngest Noaha (4) to classes in didi rugby Midlands’ Hinckley area for several years.

And as well as saying their children have gained in both confidence and valuable ‘life skills’, they believe the classes have also been great for providing a fantastic family bonding experience.

“didi rugby has been good for the parents too and is a real bonding experience,” said Chaminda. “Spending time with them doing something they love makes you feel good.

Nishita added: “Suraj did didi rugby for three years and he gained in skills and coordination. They are life skills aren’t they? The improvement in balance, agility and flexibility help them in all aspects of life and helps their stamina too.

“The skills he learned and the confidence he gained from didi has made him into the person he is now.

“Our youngest Noaha has also done didi for two years now and he has progressed too with his coordination and skills. His confidence has grown hugely.

“They are pushed at just the right speed and the coaches are doing a brilliant job.”

There are so many reasons to love didi rugby.

Young boys and girls love running around, having fun and learning new skills while making new friends and growing in confidence.

Their parents, carers and grandparents love seeing their children grow in confidence and have fun knowing they are being taken care of in a safe environment.

Coaches love seeing the children in their classes getting really stuck in, mixing well and forming really strong bonds with those who share their fun every week.

Franchise holders love seeing their businesses grow with strong, passionate and committed support from didi rugby UK – a team of people who help with their delivery, planning, financial structure, marketing and much more.

And didi rugby UK, led by influencial founder and CEO Vicky Macqueen BEM, love seeing more and more people engaged, having fun and being active.

“We all love didi rugby!”

didi rugby stars took centre stage at Wasps Rugby’s Fans Village before a Gallagher Premiership game at the Ricoh Arena.

Following an invite from the Wasps Community team, founder Vicky Macqueen and a number of coaches from didi rugby franchises around the country demonstrated the classes that thousands of children around the country are now enjoying.

Young didi members had great fun showing off their skills and confidence in front of a good crowd at the ‘Wasps Nest’.

Some didi stars were interviewed and shown on big screens around the Fans Village.

Then, children and their parents were able to go through and watch the game between Wasps Rugby and Newcastle Falcons.

Parents made comments like: “Louie loved the didi rugby session and his first ever rugby match. Thank you for the experience.”

During a time of national division, I am sure we can all come together and agree that life tends to fly by at a rapid rate.

We all do our best to get through from day to day – and then move on to the next one.

In an ideal world, there would be time to reflect and look back to see what we have done right and what we have done wrong. The good bits, we can try again…the bad bits, we can learn from.

As busy people, that time for reflection never seems to arrive, however.

So when my good friend Vicky Cropp asked me to go to India with her to spend a few days in a yoga retreat, it sounded amazing, but totally unrealistic.

The support I received from my husband and extended family though was amazing and they encouraged me to make the trip for all the reasons I have just mentioned.

Vicky and I have been on a long journey together since we both left Redmoor Academy school in Hinckley, Leicestershire in July 2016 to focus on our respective businesses.

I set up didi rugby and she launched The Yoga Loft. Two-and-a-half years down the line and we are both really pleased with our progress.

Being in the middle of spreading didi rugby’s values every day has made me a good judge of that business’ progress and I have also been close to The Yoga Loft with two visits a week as part of my routine.

I have found a huge mental benefit of spending a short time to myself doing yoga. That headspace allows me to gather my thoughts, reflect and look forward. As well as the physical and mental health benefits, it also allows me the chance to do some physical activity with my mum who can ‘crow pose’ and stand on her head at the age of 72!

didi rugby Gloucestershire are opening their first venue in central Gloucester after forming an exciting new partnership with Longlevens RFC.

The launch will take place on Sunday 28 April and will give those children and parents who book their free place a chance to play, have fun, tackle the obstacle course and not only meet didi rugby mascots, Dougie and Daisy but also meet didi rugby ambassadors from England and Gloucester’s Hartpury WRFC.

The launch party will last from 9am to 11am and then regular 40-minute classes will follow every Sunday afterwards at the same time for all three didi rugby age groups from 18 months up to 6 years of age.

didi rugby Gloucestershire launched in June 2018 with ex-England star Susie Appleby as head coach. Classes are now thriving in centres at Lydney RFC, Cinderford RFC and Highnam C of E Academy.

The fourth venue will be their first in Gloucester and Susie’s fellow director Suzanne Appleby-Jones says they cannot wait to get started in what is a hotbed of rugby activity.

“Our fourth centre and our first in central Gloucester, will launch at Longlevens RFC on 28 April,” she said. “We are delighted to be working with this inclusive and family-orientated club.”

Company director, Matt Cropp tells the story of of how didi rugby began over a quick chat at a rugby club.

Years later, the franchise business is booming and thousands of children have become active, learned new skills and grown in confidence as a result of attending didi rugby classes.

And Matt says that’s only just the start of things to come.

“I have young kids and I do everything possible to get them outside and active and Vicky’s passion and enthusiasm were infectious and I wanted to be involved with it.

“The key to the whole didi concept is getting people active and the speed at which this has grown has surprised me.

“Vicky is involved at every single level and her passion for this comes through at every level too. She is an ex-England rugby player and she knows exactly the skills these children need as they are growing up.”

didi rugby stars and their parents made the most of a tremendous opportunity as they were able to show off their considerable skills in the Wasps Rugby Fans’ Village.

Before the Ricoh Stadium hosted Wasps’ Gallagher Premiership game against Newcastle Falcons, children throughout the didi rugby age group were invited to take part in classes that were played out in front of big crowds in high pre-game spirits.

Hundreds of children and parents visited the didi rugby area and joined in the fun with coaches and founder Vicky Macqueen.

didi rugby was invited to show what it could do after hooking up with Wasps Community.

Vicky was also interviewed during the day in a broadcast which was shown on the huge TV screens in the Fans Village – nicknamed the Wasps’ Nest.

didi rugby mascots Dougie and Daisy were spreading the fun too which was also enjoyed by franchise owners who helped put on a very busy class schedule.

The new owner of didi rugby’s latest franchise already knows the power of what his classes can achieve.

Keith Smith will be launching didi rugby Cheltenham at Cheltenham Civil Service RFC on Sunday 5 May with a host of experience already in the bag.

The former Gloucester, Lydney, Cinderford and Cheltenham Saracens rugby player first got involved with didi rugby when he spoke to the owners of the Gloucester franchise, Susie Appleby and Suzanne Appleby-Jones.

He was soon assistant coaching with them in schools and then started coaching his own class in Highnam.

A chat with didi rugby founder and CEO Vicky Macqueen then followed and now Keith is preparing to bring his skill and knowledge base to Cheltenham to try and get more kids active and playing a sport which is hugely popular in the area.

“I have already seen at my Highnam class the positive influence that didi rugby can have on children,” he said.

“There were two lads who were really shy and quiet when they started are now, they are flying around the hall and their dads cannot believe the transformation.

“That shows what can be done by getting children active and involved in sport.

“I am firm believer in kids being active and getting them off their computers and consoles and into getting outside their houses to have fun and play sport. Hopefully, we can get plenty of children involved in the Cheltenham area.”

It is likely that didi rugby Cheltenham will be a family affair too with daughter Ellie (16) expected to join the coaching set-up. The talented teenager is heading to Hartpury College to do athletics and will be getting stuck in with dad to increase her experience too.