Category: News

New didi rugby classes have opened in Crewe as a response to demand for sessions on a Friday morning.

New Life Community Centre on Fuller Drive was the venue for the new classes to begin last Friday in Crewe and an excellent response showed didi rugby Crewe and Nantwich owner, Katie Heirene why it was the right decision to expand the franchise again.

“It’s really exciting to launch our first venue in the CW2 postcode and to be able to offer Friday morning classes too,” she said.

“This is a great venue in a big residential area so it’s really accessible by foot and bus, but parking is also available.

“We have had quite a lot of interest from families in Crewe and Nantwich regarding Friday morning classes and this venue is easily accessible for both areas. We will be running an Under-3s and a 3-4s class every week.

It is not the only new class Katie has opened recently with further expansion of the franchise taking place at Elim Church, Regent’s Park, Nantwich.

Sessions have moved here from Imagination Lane and will take place on Tuesdays.

“Imagination Lane has been a fantastic venue and we are really grateful for our time there, with big thanks to Jo and Gemma for accommodating us and promoting didi rugby,” added Katie.

“But we now need more space to grow and Regents Park is a great central venue for anyone travelling from Crewe or Nantwich, with parking available on site.

Some children enjoyed the opening class of didi rugby Gloucestershire’s new sessions in Highnam so much that they stayed for all three classes!

And if the launch at Highnam Community Centre was anything to go by, there looks like being plenty of children and parents around to enjoy the fun in the coming months.

The franchise’s co-owner Suzanne Appleby-Jones said there was a great atmosphere around the launch and that many of those who attended have said they will be back for more after seeing what didi rugby had to offer.

“The opening sessions were great fun, well attended and our lead and assistant coaches Keith Smith and Shannon Stroud were fabulous,” said Suzanne.

“Some children enjoyed it so much that they stayed for all 3 sessions!

“We have some ‘sign-ups’ already and are expecting more this week and beyond.

“We believe that our Highnam centre is going to be a great success and due to its proximity to Gloucester, we also look forward to building links with Hartpury College and Gloucester Rugby.”

Suzanne added that local didi rugby ambassadors Ceri Large and Natasha Hunt have both said they are keen to add their support to sessions in the near future.

Classes will run every Saturday from 9am to 11am. To book your child in or to try a free taster session to see what all of the fuss is about, visit our Find A Class widget.

didi rugby founder Vicky Macqueen would like to welcome some new faces to new classes at Hinckley Leisure Centre.

Due to the level of demand, extra didi sessions are now being provided on Wednesdays and Fridays.

And Vicky says she would love to see some new didi stars begin their journey with a free taster session to see if they like the classes. The winter months will see lots of inside activities, games and fun!

Free tasters are available at all didi rugby venues across the country.

“I am still very hands on in the Midlands classes where we run sessions at various venues in Hinckley, Burbage and Lutterworth,” said Vicky.

“We are really looking forward to seeing some new faces in those current classes and some more new ones on Wednesdays and Fridays at Hinckley Leisure Centre after Christmas.

“As well as learning valuable skills, we hope to grow children’s confidence and social skills while making sure they have lots of fun.

“Bring your little one along to see if they like it. We would love to see you there and will make you feel very welcome.”

There is a certain amount of stardust sprinkled over the upcoming launch of didi rugby’s latest franchise.

didi rugby Stone and Stafford will be run by the dynamic duo of Mollie Latham and Ros Wiggins.

The Stafford launch will take place on Saturday 26 January, while Stone classes will get underway on Sunday 3 February.

Ros has a mass of experience in women’s rugby and disability sport, while Mollie was crowned National Rugby Awards Female Player of the Year just over three months ago.

It was an astonishing evening for Mollie at Twickenham when she was given the award in recognition of her outstanding work at Crewe & Nantwich RUFC.

The awards are held annually to recognise the work of rugby players, coaches and volunteers in the game across the UK. Mollie beat over 400 other applicants, including players from the Tyrrells Women’s Premiership, to the award.

The Nantwich News reported at the time: “Judges commended Mollie for her performances on and off the pitch, with her work across the wider club giving her the nod over some stiff competition from all corners of the country.”

While Crewe & Nantwich RUFC Chair, Nik Joyce said: “She’s an amazing role model throughout the club and an incredibly modest person, so for her to have recognition on a national scale is a huge honour for her and so well deserved.”

didi rugby is delighted that someone with Mollie’s background will be putting her efforts into launching the businesses’ latest franchise.

She has been playing rugby since she was 10-year-old and was responsible for setting up the now flourishing Women’s team at Crewe & Nantwich, which also contains didi rugby Crewe & Nantwich franchise owner, Katie Heirene.

didi rugby has launched its 20th franchise with a fantastic morning in Oakham, Rutland.

The opening of didi rugby Rutland and East Leicestershire was a special day for several reasons with lots of parents and children having a fun day at Langham Village Hall.

Two local stars came and supported the event with former Wasps player Sarah ‘Huddy’ Mitchelson and England Under-18s Sevens player Phoebe Andrews joining in the activities.

But it was also a day to remember for new owner Emma Taylor who has been involved in didi rugby as a coach in Hinckley before deciding to take on a franchise of her own nearer to home.

didi rugby founder and CEO Vicky Macqueen had taken Emma under her wing in those early days so it was a wonderful moment for her too to see Emma build her own foundations.

“It was an absolutely brilliant launch with around 100 people there,” said Vicky.

“The first group was packed and there was lots of numbers in the second and third groups too.

“I am really proud of Emma getting so many people there on the day. There was a radio station and newspaper there too and she was absolutely brilliant coaching the three sessions.

Do you want your child to grow in confidence while having fun and being active?

Then come along to a didi rugby class and enjoy a free taster session at any of our venues across the country.

Following a tremendously successful 2018, we are confident they will have a great time, learn new skills and meet new friends too.

We would love to meet you and show you why thousands of children across the UK are coming back to didi rugby every term.

Devised and led by former England Women’s international Vicky Macqueen, here are five reasons why we think you and your child should give didi rugby a ‘try’…

1) Age appropriate classes – Our three age groups of 18-36 months, 3-4 years and 4-6 years means your child will be enjoying the right learning at the right stage of their development. These age ranges are within flexible boundaries and based on each child’s ability and confidence as opposed to a strict age structure.

2) Get active, learn and grow in confidence – We will get your child physically active and improve skills like co-ordination, speed and balance. We also hope to grow their confidence as they learn social skills in a positive, friendly and no-pressure environment.

3) Parents and Carers can join in – Because all of our classes are delivered in a friendly and relaxed environment, we encourage parents and carers to get involved as much or as little as they like. We want child and adults to feel comfortable in our classes.

4) One-to-one attention – There are a minimum of two coaches in every didi rugby session to make sure that every child receives some one-to-one tuition and so that even the shyest of kids feels valued and part of our friendly team.

5) didi rugby is great fun – Every session is designed to make sure your child is engaged and having fun with a smile on their face. We encourage positivity, team play, respect and sportsmanship. We hope that by instilling these values early on in life, they encourage a life-long participation in physical activity.

didi rugby Gloucestershire is expanding to Highnam where it will launch a high-profile launch party in the New Year.

If you live in the area and would like your child to get a taste of some of the fun that kids are enjoying all over the country, then keep Saturday 12 January spare and come to the Highnam Community Centre on Newent Road for a free taster session.

didi rugby ambassadors will be joining in and will be free to have photos taken with visitors, while mascots Dougie and Daisy will be up for some fun too.

Regular classes will then start at the venue every Saturday from 19 January for all of didi rugby’s three age groups between 9am and 11am.

The sessions will be run by coach Keith Smith, a retired police officer who was keen to get involved in the didi rugby Gloucestershire set-up which also runs classes at Cinderford RFC.

didi rugby Gloucestershire’s Suzanne Appleby-Jones said she was excited to be spreading the franchise to a new venue.

“Things are going well and didi rugby is building momentum,” she said. “It has all been positive so far and we are getting some really nice recommendations on our Facebook account which is great to see.

“We have started working with primary schools as well and we have been very well-received there too.”

* Book your child’s free taster session at the launch on 12 January by visiting this direct link to the booking page on our website, by calling Suzanne on (07872) 921856 or by emailing suzanne.appleby-jones@didirugby.com *

Classes will take place at Highnam Community Centre, Newent Road, Highnam, GL2 8DG, every Saturday morning from 9.00am – 11.00am from 19 January.

didi rugby Bosworth owner Matt Stubbs is looking forward to Christmas and the New Year after an extremely positive start to his time as a franchise owner.

Since the launch in September, which was given a huge boost by England Women Rugby stars Emily Scarratt and Charlotte Pearce, classes have been thriving with both children and parents getting stuck in and having fun.

Matt is set on expansion in the 2019 and is buzzing after a busy first few months, which has seen them already link-up with Market Bosworth Rugby Club.

“I just want to thank everyone for their support since we started in September,” said Matt.

“Our Enderby classes have been going well and we have had people getting interested in bookings for the New Year.

“Meanwhile, in Bosworth, the sessions at Bosworth Rugby Club on a Saturday morning are flying.

“Thankfully, the club have been brilliant and are loving what we are doing which is great news.

“We are looking forward to 2019 very much and just want to say Merry Christmas from us all at didi rugby Bosworth to all of our supporters. We look forward to seeing more parents and children at our classes in the New Year.”

didi rugby Syston will be kicking off in the New Year and it will be a real family affair in the Leicestershire town.

Eleanor Wilkinson will be head coach at new classes held at the St Peter and St Paul CE Academy on Saturday afternoons from 5 January, 2019 onwards.

The 17-year-old is a well-known figure in her home village having played, coached and refereed the game locally.

She is a member of the Leicestershire Society of Rugby Referees and the sport has been in her blood from a very young age so the teenager certainly does not lack experience.

Eleanor will be helped by her sister Lydia, who is going to be her assistant coach, and her parents who are busy spreading the word through social media and by delivering leaflets in the area.

“We will be running all three age groups when we launch and we have been out in Syston trying to tell as many people as possible that the classes will be starting in January,” said Eleanor.

“There are quite a lot of young people in Syston and a lot of people who play rugby so I am hoping it all goes well.

“I got into rugby because I have grown up with it and watched a lot of it from a very young age. Now this is very exciting because I have done a lot of volunteer coaching already.

“I met Vicky in February 2017 when we both appeared on Radio Leicester and then we saw each again at an awards ceremony.

In the summer of 2017, Emma Taylor had a life-changing epiphany.

Having helped out a friend coaching didi rugby classes in Stoneygate, Leicester, she was asked by didi’s founder and CEO Vicky Macqueen to spread her wings and take on three classes in Hinckley.

It was a big step up from what she was used to and when she accepted Vicky’s offer, her broad smile hid a fair amount of trepidation.

But Vicky had seen enough of Emma already to know what she was doing and the trust she put in her gave Emma the confidence she needed to take on the challenge.

Not only has she never looked back, but those moments in the Hinckley classes provided Emma with a moment of realisation…she had finally found her calling in life.

“It was a big challenge for me and I was asking myself if I can really do this,” said Emma. I had worked in business and with kids before but there was still some doubt there.

“When I started enjoying it and realising I was fine, I suddenly had an epiphany. It was like I had found out what I was good at.”

Later that year, Emma went full-time in Hinckley and early next year, she will become the owner of the business’ latest franchise, didi rugby Rutland and East Leicestershire.

Emma is a RFU Level 2 rugby coach who spent her time learning off her mentor Vicky when she coached the Loughborough University team that Emma played for.

“Vicky coached me for six months as a player so I could learn why things were taught the way they were for my coaching ambitions with my local club Oakham,” she said. “That was a big help.

“I qualified for Level 2 in December 2016 and, at the time, an RFU stat said that only 550 women were qualified to coach rugby. I wanted to become one of those stats and see what I could do.