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For the first time since confirming their partnership, didi rugby and the Burford Academy will join forces for a camp during the half-term break at Reading RFC.

On Wednesday 24 October, former England internationals Vicky Macqueen (owner of didi rugby) and Rachael Burford will be putting on a rugby camp for children aged between 18 months and 18 years of age.

didi rugby Reading will be running sessions for 18 months to six-year-olds from 10am to Midday, while Rachael and her team of experienced coaches will take 7 to 18-year-old girls from 9.30am until 3pm.

The aim of the camp is a driving force of both organisations and that is to get more young people physically active while learning the skills and enjoying the values of rugby.

Vicky said didi’s links with clubs around the country provide the perfect platform for children to play tag rugby when they are too old for didi classes.

And that the partnership with the Burford Academy would provide another high-class coaching option for didi graduates to continue their rugby journey.

“We are linking with the Burford Academy to ensure that girls get a chance to learn from their amazing coaches and role models,” added Vicky.

“We firmly believe that encouraging children to get active at a young age will not only help them stay healthy but will increase their confidence and self-esteem as well as help interaction and engagement with other children.

“didi rugby is a great stepping stone into team sports further down the line because we teach the values of respect, sharing and team spirit.

“Parents and carers are a big part of what we do and we encourage their involvement during class sessions at the right time. We are not strict. We want didi kids to be happy and comfortable in our 40-minute classes.”

didi rugby Reading head coach Craig Hunter added: “We are delighted to be linking up with Reading Rugby Club and the Burford Academy to bring this partnership together on one place.”

Rachael said she believed it would be an exciting partnership and was looking forward to seeing it grow.

CEO Vicky Macqueen says didi rugby are on the lookout for new franchise owners.

Those people must have a passion for getting children active and be looking to run a business on a part-time or full-time basis. Full training and support, both before and after a launch, will be provided by didi rugby UK.

Successful applicants will join a friendly, committed and close-knit team who share ideas, experiences and best practice to create a winning community within the business.

“This is a great opportunity for people to get involved in something they are passionate about,” said Vicky.

“It is a business opportunity but it is a business that we want you to care about because we all want to get more children active and involved in sport.

“It’s also a great chance to integrate and become more of a part of your community and meet lots of new people along the way.

“didi franchises can be run on a full or part-time venture and there are opportunities for everyone if you are the right sort of person to join us.

“We are looking for people with the right ideals and values and those who want to bring activity to children’s lives and be a part of what we are doing.

“Having a rugby background is a bonus but it is really is not crucial and some of our most recent franchises are owned by people from a non-rugby background.

‘A didi franchise is ideal for someone who wants a change of pathway or someone who simply has a passion for children and wants to see them active in their community.”

Leicester Tigers’ Sam Harrison knows from personal experience how important it is to be active in your formative years.

The livewire scrum-half was always a busy and sporty child and that gave him the grounding to go on and make a professional career in rugby with his home town club.

Now, the didi rugby ambassador is keen for his kids to follow a similar path in their formative years to give them a firm base from which to be active teenagers and adults.

And he says that getting them involved in didi rugby, near where he grew up in Hinckley, Leicestershire has been the ideal start, not just for their physical development.

“didi rugby gets my children communicating with other kids at an early age,” he said. “They probably don’t even realise it because they are having so much fun but they are learning all the time.

“They learn counting, numbers and all sorts of skills. Plus, they are getting into rugby as well which is a good thing.

“Getting them active at this age is the main thing. There is a lot of stuff said about diet and whatever but if they are active at a young age, which I always was, it puts you in good stead for when you are older.”

And coming from the same area of Leicestershire as didi rugby owner Vicky Macqueen, Sam is full of praise for someone he says he has a lot of respect for.

“Vicky has all the enthusiasm and she has started this from scratch,” Sam added. “It’s credit to her where it is now and there are didi franchises all over the country. It’s getting bigger and bigger and that is down to her dedication and enthusiasm.”

didi rugby founder and CEO Vicky Macqueen says she is proud to offer didi rugby taster sessions that are both fun and free at any venues across the country.

The didi name stands for fun, confidence and activity and classes are currently popping up all over the country at a rapid rate from Twickenham to Nantwich and York to Cinderford.

With more new franchises in the pipeline, didi’s passionate founder is keen to remind parents of children that might fancy a trial run at a didi class that they are more than welcome, wherever they live.

“I am personally inviting you to free taster session at any of our venues around the country for your little one,” says Vicky.

“You just need a child that is between 18 months and 6 years of age and have a passion for getting them involved in something fun and active.

“We want to get as many children as possible active around the country and your taster session will completely free with no obligation. Come along and see what it is all about and have some fun with us.

“If you and your child enjoy their session – and we think you will – we welcome you to think about it and have the option of signing up for future classes.

“There are hundreds of kids around the country enjoying didi rugby on a weekly basis so please bring your child along because we would love to see you.”

Children with disabilities will receive a special welcome at new classes that are being launched by didi rugby Swansea.

Sketty Park Community Centre will host didi disability sessions from Friday 14 September from 4-5pm.

All didi rugby classes are inclusive and welcome children with disabilities.

But didi rugby Swansea head coach Robyn Lock has decided to hold a weekly class aimed specifically at 3 to 8-year-olds whose parents may have been reluctant to take their kids to sporting classes in the past.

And it all started with a chat with a didi mum a few months ago.

“I had a conversation with one of the parents from our St Helens classes and she has an autistic son who has loved didi rugby,” she said.

“There are a lot of parents out there with kids who have disabilities who are not confident enough to take them to a classes like didi rugby.

“But I wanted to promote something that was for everyone and so we have decided to run this class.

“I have worked with Sport Wales and Disability Sport Wales to get things right.

“It will be aimed at 3 to 8 year olds but we want to also take kids who may be say, 11, but have a development stage of a younger child and give them a stepping stone into an active life.

“I like to think we are setting a trend for organisations to deliver disability classes.”

didi rugby has joined forces with Hinckley and Bosworth School Sport and Activity Network (HBSSPAN) to promote physical activity for four to six-year-olds.

The formal link will see all 58 schools in the Hinckley and Bosworth area of Leicestershire get access to a free taster session hosted by didi rugby.

The sessions will teach multi skills to Key Stage 1 children based on the principles and values of rugby.

HBSSPAN is responsible for the delivery and co-ordination of school sport, physical activity and leadership opportunities across the Hinckley and Bosworth area and School Games Organsier Steph Tirrell said didi rugby’s offering was an ideal fit.

“Vicky was previously a head of PE within our network so she already knows the sort of requirements needed within our schools,” she said.

“We want to get the right message out to the schools in our area and our partnership with didi shows that it’s a reputable link because it is coming from SSPAN.

“Last year we held a rugby festival with years 1 and 2 together and this year’s event in March will be called the ‘didi rugby Festival’ – a big tag rugby festival and fun day for four to six-year olds which will take place at Bosworth Academy in Desford.”

didi rugby is a nationwide franchise based in Hinckley and founder and CEO Vicky Macqueen said she could not wait to get more children involved, having fun and learning key skills in classes throughout the Hinckley and Bosworth area.

“We are on the same page with HBSSPAN and are determined to work together to improve activity levels and opportunities for all of our young people,” said Vicky.

“I am extremely passionate about the benefits that didi rugby can bring to children. There is a lot more to it than just rugby and we are delighted to have the opportunity to spread our values to school children in the area.”

England star Charlotte Pearce is hoping to instil confidence and self-esteem in young people from an early age.

The flying back, who plays for Loughborough Lightning in the Tyrrells Women’s Premier XVs League is a didi rugby ambassador on a mission.

The secondary school teacher has seen plenty of children with low self-esteem in her job and believes that the sooner young people can feel confident in themselves, the better.

“I decided to be a didi rugby ambassador because, now I am playing at internationals level, I want to be a role model to younger children,” said Charlotte.

“I thought it would be really fun to be involved and give something back to the community.

“I am really happy to work with younger kids. That’s my calling in life really and probably why I am a teacher.

“I think that having confidence in children is key. Self-esteem, particularly in teenagers, is quite low these days where I work.

“We need to do something about that. Getting them active at a young age and building them up in the right way will make a massive change to their physical and mental development.

“Some kids don’t have that and it can be hard to build that up inside them. So it is great to work at that from a young age and given them the sort of boost that they need.

“It’s great to work with Vicky Macqueen too. She is so passionate and excitable and that’s just what the kids at didi rugby need.”

didi rugby South Warwickshire have announced a formal link with Kenilworth RFC and will launch new classes there starting on Sunday 9 September.

They will replace the ones in central Kenilworth.

Franchise coach Rich Bennett played for the first team at Kenilworth and was head coach for a decade.

His strong relationship with the club has helped to set-up a link which both parties now hope will benefit the children involved.

didi rugby South Warwickshire’s head coach Kiri Bennett says she is delighted that there will be a natural pathway for kids who come through the age groups from 18 months to six years old.

“We think it is a good idea to run our classes here because we can build a relationship with the mini and juniors sections of the club,” she said.

“We will be able to coach the younger children through didi and then give them the opportunity to join the minis and juniors at Kenilworth once they are old enough. Hopefully, by then, they will have developed a good level of basic skills to help that transition.

“We are hoping this will have a positive impact on the standard of young players moving up through the club too.

“This will also expose didi to a greater audience as parents see our sessions taking place when they bring their older kids to minis and juniors.

“Kenilworth RFC has a long history of developing players from minis and juniors to senior rugby. We feel that by connecting with the club, we can help with children’s development in their early years, offer a clear pathway for parents of those children, and also help them engage with activity and enjoyment which will give them the building blocks which will stay with them for life.

“We would like to thank Kenilwoirth RFC chairman Peter Blakeman and Kerry Kirwan (chairman of minis and juniors) who have both been a great help in this partnership and have shown us lots of encouragement and support.”

The launch of didi rugby classes in Enderby saw one little visitor find a lovely friendship with didi ambassador, England star Emily Scarratt.

Two-year-old Juliet Childs really found her confidence after a shy start in her class and formed a lovely bond with Emily.

Emily was at Enderby Leisure Centre along with fellow England back Charlotte Pearce as both ambassadors gave up their time to help the launch of Enderby classes for the new Bosworth franchise.

Emily was close by Juliet’s side as she enjoyed the various challenges of the didi obstacle course and was encouraging her every step of the way.

The youngster responded well and had a big smile on her face by the end of the class and will be back again next week.

A link-up with a soft play area has provided a new venue for didi rugby Reading classes in Newbury.

Eddie Catz on York Road in the town will provide not only a warm and safe place to hold the classes but will give didi kids the chance to play in the facilities free of charge before or after each session.

Eddie Catz also provide workshops, classes and events for children and toddlers.

The sessions begin on Friday 7 September and will represent the 10^th venue now hosting classes in the didi rugby Reading area. It’s a sign of the success the franchise has enjoyed since launching just six months ago.

didi rugby Reading’s full-time head coach Craig Hunter says he is looking forward to seeing how the classes take off, especially with the added bonus of further play at the venue for any children that sign up.

“They contacted us and asked if we wanted to get involved and we are hoping it is going to be a success,” he said.

“It’s a venue is a lovely soft play area with small rooms around the side so it sounds an ideal place to host didi rugby classes.”

Teresa Breakspear is the head receptionist at Eddie Catz in Newbury and she added: “The name of didi rugby is well-known in the area and we all know that sport is great for kids to get them active and away from screens.

“The children who come for didi rugby classes here are more than welcome to have a free play before or after their session.”