Category: News

didi rugby Reading owner Craig Hunter has been so struck by the support he has received since starting the business, he has turned it into a full-time franchise.

Craig took the decision after he and fellow coach Donna Clark were struggling to take advantage of new opportunities to grow their didi business because they simply didn’t have the time to do so.

Just three months into their didi franchise and Craig has become a full-time business owner to make sure those opportunities don’t slip by.

“It all started with a great conversation I had with Vicky Macqueen (didi owner) and has turned into a full-time business now,” he said.

“It has been really enjoyable since we started but it had got to the stage where I was struggling to fit everything into three days a week and Donna was doing too much too.

“We had invested time and energy into didi rugby but couldn’t take advantage of the opportunities it was creating because we didn’t have the extra time due to other commitments.

“I thought ‘enough was enough’ and I was brave enough to make the jump!

“We have three or four coaches involved and me and Donna both coach too so we have been splitting what we do. We have been going into different clubs and schools since we started and there is plenty of other interest out there too.”

As well as taking didi rugby into schools around the area, Craig and Donna are currently hosting classes in Reading RFC on Friday and Saturday, Aldermaston RFC on Saturday and Woodford Park Leisure Centre on Monday.

“Rugby clubs in the Berkshire area are buying into it one by one and we have received some great support,” added Craig.

“I have not been surprised it has gone so well but I have been surprised at how quickly it has grown. Vicky is a big driving force behind it and she has the same ethos as we do. It’s all about engagement and there is certainly plenty of that about.

“We have lots of fun running the business and the kids enjoy seeing me melt when we are running around at classes. I am losing weight with every week that goes by!

“When adults and parents they see the kids smiling, they soon get it. Those smiles are infectious. Parents are engaged too and we make sure they are involved.

didi rugby South Warwickshire is up and running after a fun-filled launch day at Kenilworth Community Centre.

Some exciting new friendships were born when children and parents from all three didi class age groups turned up for a free taster session under the guidance of franchise owner Kiri Bennett.

And the day was made even more special with a visit from England Women’s rugby duo, Amy Cokayne and Charlotte Pearce who helped deliver the classes.

And Amy took to social media to say what a good time she had had: “It was great to be a part of the launch of didi rugby in Kenilworth with Kiri,” she said. “It is such a great prgramme for all involved and even us big kids sharpened up our skills!”

It will be a star-studded affair when didi rugby Gloucestershire launches on Sunday June 10.

Under the leadership of former England player Susie Appleby, didi rugby’s latest franchise is edging closer to a launch that everyone is looking forward to.

And, along with Susie, who earned 65 England caps during an 11-year career at the top and now coaches Gloucester/Hartpury in the Tyrrells Premier 15s, there will be plenty of well-known faces there to join in the fun.

Danielle ‘Nolli’ Waterman is the latest World Cup winner and Olympian to confirm her attendance and she will be joined by Natasha Hunt and fellow England star, Ceri Large on what promises to be a memorable and fun-filled day.

“It’s currently full steam ahead and we are all raring to go,” said Susie, who will be running the franchise with fellow director Suzanne Appleby-Jones.

“We are really excited about introducing didi rugby into The Forest of Dean and the rest of Gloucestershire.

“There is a lack of activities for young people in the area and we want to make a real difference to rugby clubs, schools, pre-schools, other local business and the community around us.

“Three schools have already decided to include didi rugby as part of their P.E. curriculum in the autumn term and we look forward to confirming more pre-school and school sessions in the coming weeks. We can’t wait to host our first didi rugby birthday party too!”

didi rugby Gloucestershire will launch at Lydney RFC and free taster sessions for all age groups will be available between 10am and Midday.

Parents are invited to book their child in and come along to see what didi rugby has to offer. The England contingent will be joining in too and will be available for photos and autographs throughout the morning. Classes will then continue at Lydney on Wednesdays and Saturdays and other venues are expected to be confirmed soon.

“Parents, schools and local businesses have already been incredibly enthusiastic and supportive and we look forward to seeing as many people as possible on June 10 and beyond,” added Susie.

Necrotising Fasciitis could have killed didi Rugby founder Vicky Macqueen in 2013.

It is a rare but extremely serious bacterial infection that affects the tissue beneath the skin and surrounding muscles and organs.

It came from nowhere and got hold of Vicky like a python.

It took hold of her body in a whirlwind and the speed at which it spreads meant she came very close to losing her leg in intensive care. Things could have got a lot worse too.

Five years later, the disease has gone and life with husband Phil and young boys Max and Harry is normal, but its passing has left an indelible mark on her.

When she had fully recovery, Vicky soon founded didi Rugby and began to drive a business that promoted all of the things she stood for: fun, enjoyment, education, friendship and activity.

Vicky also began running. Just to celebrate the fact that she had two legs to run with.

Instinctively, this led to competition and the first race she took part in was the Leicester Half Marathon. The Stratford Marathon followed and the time she recorded there qualified her for the big one… the London Marathon.

Last Sunday, Vicky crossed the finish line of the world’s most famous 26-mile course in a time of 3hrs and 56mins and raised over £1,500 for research into Necrotising Fasciitis, as well as and the Wooden Spoon Charity – which supports young children with disabilities or disadvantages.

It was no surprise that given the background to the run, the day in the capital city under a red-hot sun and watched by her family, was a thoroughly emotional one.

“My mum was at the finish line and it was really emotional,” said Vicky. “I just shouted: ‘I did it’ and started crying. It reinforced the proof that I had got over what had happened to me and the emotion of that came out.

“Because I hadn’t seen Phil and the boys throughout the race, it was amazing to see Harry up on Phil’s shoulders a while after the finish. It was a very emotional day.”

Training for London while running didi Rugby and looking after two young boys was no easy task, especially during a brutal winter that offered little in the way of respite from rain, ice or snow.

But those who have known Vicky from her days as an England international, where she earned 34 caps for her country, will know of her hell-bent determination to make a success of things that she sets her mind to.

Former England Women’s player Susie Appleby will launch the latest didi Rugby franchise.

Set for its opening in June, didi Rugby Gloucester will become the 11th franchise to set up in the UK under the guidance of business owner Vicky Macqueen.

During a long and distinguished playing career, Susie earned 65 caps for her country between 1994 and 2005, played for England at the 1998 and 2002 World Cups and was also involved in the national 7s set-up.

She played for Leeds, Saracens and Clifton (Bristol) Ladies before moving into coaching.

Susie was involved in coaching the Engalnd 7s squad for 10 years and, as head coach, has just guided Gloucester-Hartpury to the semi-finals of Tyrrells Premier 15s. She is also an RFU Level 4 coach.

A proud wife and mother, Susie knows the full value of a healthy lifestyle with such a strong sporting background and is keen to pass those values on to children in Gloucester and the surrounding area.

“I knew Vicky had an amazing idea and, having watched didi Rugby grow on social media, I was keen to discover what provisions there were for very young kids out there,” said Susie.

“I want to combine the passion I have for rugby with getting very young children active and Vicky’s enthusiasm for didi Rugby and life in general enticed me into it.

“didi allows children to pick up a rugby ball and have fun, develop friendships and be able to play from a very young age.

“I really think this could be amazing for the area because it is a place with very strong rugby traditions and we have already had some good support.”

Didi Rugby Swansea owner Robyn Lock has been announced as Player of the Year at the Ospreys Women’s Rugby Club annual awards evening.

On a night to remember at the Liberty Stadium in Swansea, she was presented with the Elli Norkett Memorial Award, sponsored by Asphalt Surfacing.

Elli was a Swansea Ladies/Ospreys and Wales international rugby player who was killed in a car crash aged just 20 last year. She was much-loved by her team mates who played a memorial game in her honour this week.

Robyn beat fellow nominees Natalia John and Kerin Lake to the award and said she was delighted to receive the recognition in the company of some fantastic players.

“Receiving an award that recognises the hard work and contribution Elli put into the women’s game across Wales is a complete honour,” said Robyn.

“I know that everyone who knew her plans to do her proud and I just hope I’ve done that this season.”

It has been an amazing year for Robyn off the pitch too with such a successful launch of her new didi franchise which has received incredible support from children, parents, businesses in the Swansea region.

One of the those classes also saw Wales rugby legend, Gareth Thomas visit and pay tribute to Robyn’s work in the community. The footage of his visit appeared on BBC Wales’ Six Nations coverage.

Didi Rugby Swansea will be running summer camps right through August and regular classes are now taking place in Gorseinon, Glais, Gendros, St Helens and West Cross.

England Women’s duo, Amy Cokayne and Charlotte Pearce will be bringing an international theme to the launch of didi Rugby South Warwickshire on Sunday 13 May.

Amy and Charlotte will be welcoming visitors and getting to know didi’s latest young stars as they kick-off what is set to be a fun morning at Kenilworth Leisure Centre.

didi Rugby South Warwickshire owner Kiri Bennett, herself a Great Britain universities international, will be leading the sessions which will run across all three age groups from 9am.

She will also be supported by dad and fellow coach, Rich, along with didi Rugby owner, Vicky Macqueen.

Kiri’s mum and daughter will be joining in, along with friends, family and what looks set to be dozens of new didi children and parents who have signed up for the taster sessions.

The 18 months to 3 years class will take place between 9.00 and 9.40.

The 3 to 4-year age group is 9.40 to 10.20, before the older 4 to 6-year-olds finish things off from 10.20 to 11.00.

Great mentor and coach

Kiri says she cannot wait to get going after months of planning with the didi franchise support team.

“I have had amazing support from Vicky. She has been there every step of the way to ensure everything is ready and running smoothly,” said Kiri.

“She is a great mentor and coach and I am very excited to be working alongside her to grow the didi Rugby family.

“I would also like to mention Sanchia and Denise for helping so much with the set up and for their constant support throughout!”

The launch will take place at Kenilworth Community Centre, Abbey End Car Park, Kenilworth, Warwickshire, CV8 1QJ.

England Women’s World Cup-winning coach Gary Street will head up the latest didi rugby franchise to launch.

didi rugby Twickenham will start with a bang when it holds its first sessions at the Twickenham Stoop – home of Harlequins RFC – on Saturday 19^thMay.

And World Cup winner Maggie Alphonsi will be there to lend her support for what promises to be a memorable launch party.

The fun and activities for all three didi age groups will begin at 9.00am and go right through to Midday.

Our 18 months to 3 years kids will be first, followed by the 3 to 4-year-olds with didi seniors (4 to 6 years) finishing things off.

Gary is the most successful England rugby coach of all time. As head coach of the England Women’s team from 2007, he led them to a glorious World Cup victory on France in 2014. With him in charge, England also won five Six Nations titles on the trot, four Nations Cups and four European Cups.

Since leaving that role, he helped coach Aylesford Bulls to a league and cup double in 2016/17 and that side is now playing under the Harlequins banner in the Tyrrells Women’s Premier XVs. As part of an extended role with Quins, Gary has been working with coaches in the Developing Player Programme.

Bringing on young players has always been close to his heart and he says he is really looking forward to the launch of didi Rugby Twickenham to continue that drive.

“I am really proud to be involved with didi Rugby and to bring the values of the business to the Twickenham and Richmond area,” he said.

“It is fun and entertaining and a great way to get kids active in the sport.

“We look forward to getting to know lots more parents and children in the coming months.”

While Gary will front the coaching side of the franchise, he will receive support from Andrew Forsythe and Jonathan Palmer.

Andrew is a qualified rugby referee with a huge passion for the game and the values it promotes.

Women’s World Cup-winning coach Gary Street is on the look-out for coaches to join his new didi Rugby team in Twickenham.

The latest didi franchise is set to launch at Harlequins’ The Stoop ground on May 19, amidst growing excitement from businesses, parents and children in the area.

“We are all looking forward to getting didi Rugby Twickenham up and running on May 19,” said Gary. “We are currently looking to complete our team with some more coaches and are seeking people who are driven and passionate to share our values for getting children active while having fun.

“I would like to ask anyone who is interested in the role and wants to find out more information about what it entails to get in contact with me.

“We are looking for people to be available on Saturday and Sunday mornings with the possibility of some mornings and afternoon slots in the week too.”

All coaches will receive training from Gary and the rest of the didi team.

The event in Twickenham follows on from the recent franchise launches in Loughborough and Bedfordshire, with a new venues in Kenilworth and South Warwickshire set to begin on May 13.

didi Rugby Reading is set to extend the amount of classes it offers to youngsters in the area after a tremendous response from the public.

Since launching almost three months ago, the franchise has gone from strength to strength under the leadership of Craig Hunter and Donna Clark.

And when some of the age groups quickly became full and began operating a waiting list, Craig and Donna knew they had to come up with ideas to satisfy the ever-growing demand.

Didi Reading currently offer two classes on Fridays and three on Saturday at Reading RFC. As of next week, they are delivering permanent sessions in three schools, with taster sessions coming up in two others with a view to running permanently from September.

Classes at Aldermaston RFC is now a permanent fixture on a Saturday morning – after starting off as a taster session – and they are filling up already.

Taster sessions at Newbury start  on Wednesday 2 May.

Craig said: “It has been an amazing few months for us since we launched.  We are looking forward to growing the didi rugby Reading coaching team now and sharing the fun, while enabling children from 18 months to 6 years old to build confidence and be active.

“None of this would have been possible without the support of Donna and fellow coaches Clare Swadling, Nicola Brooks, as well as Joe, Caitlin, Jack and Katie, and of course Vicky Macqueen and the didi rugby team.

“I have always wanted to provide some form of rugby for the siblings of our U6 and above players at Reading RFC.