Find a didi rugby class in Devon

About didi rugby Devon

Contact – 01837 83748   facebook for didi rugby Devon
dididevon@didirugby.com

Paul Tearle and Gemma Carnegie  – didi rugby Devon

About Paul Tearle

I started playing rugby as an Under-11 inspired by my peers when I started secondary school.

Since then, I have been a two-club man all my life and been part of Crediton RFC and Sheffield Tigers RFC at various times in my life.

Now back at Crediton, I’m threatening to put my boots back on at some point!

I work as the PE teacher in the local comprehensive school and we have built fantastic links between the school and the club, sharing facilities, coaches and creating a pathway for those that enjoy the game at school and want to develop further at the club.

As a teacher, I was certainly ‘Jack of all trades’ rather than a specialist, having had national level experience in both athletics and volleyball, as well as local level basketball and football as I grew up. Those sports were always threaded between playing rugby throughout my life.

In addition to teaching, I have 20 years of experience working at a successful holiday camp for children aged 3-15 too.

Over the last 10 years, I have run that business and was delighted when it was rated as ‘outstanding’ by Ofsted in our last inspection.

Having met many inspirational people through the sport of rugby, the opportunity to be involved with didi rugby materialised through meeting people with a shared passion for the game and its values.

Integrating my background of teaching and business and love for the game made it an easy decision to take on a didi franchise in the hot-bed of rugby here in Devon.

With two primary-aged children of my  own, I am familiar with the challenges of parenting and getting involved with didi will offer many parents locally another outlet for children to develop and flourish in a safe and positive environment.

About Gemma Carnegie

Degree from University of Brighton
Head of PE at a secondary school.
Teaching for 20 years
Rugby player for 20 years… fly-half,
Favourite player – Johnny Wilkinson!
Fantastic role model for women’s and girls rugby.
Hobbies include anything active, hiking, climbing.
Strong advocate of England Rugby’s Core Values of Teamwork, Respect, Enjoyment, Discipline and Sportsmanship.

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Find a didi rugby class in Blackburn and Ribble Valley

About didi rugby Blackburn and Ribble Valley

Contact – 07988 720062   facebook for didi rugby Blackburn and Ribble Valley
john.oryan@didirugby.com

John O’Ryan – didi rugby Preston, Blackburn and Ribble Valley

Family trio John, James and Sam bring several lifetimes of playing, coaching and professional experience to providing fun activities for our smallest friends across Blackburn, Darwen and the Ribble Valley.

We have a superb blend of skills and knowledge, combined with a passion for sports, to encourage and promote all the fantastic positives we know that children can gain from taking part in sports.

We aim to offer a supportive, caring and fun experience at all our venues, reflecting our family values, the values we know didi rugby share and the values we have enjoyed for over 30 years in our rugby journey.

We want our didi rugby friends’ journey to be just as enjoyable, leading to a lifelong love of sport and all the benefits this brings with it like health, confidence, friends, skills and fun.

John is the head coach of the didi rugby franchise for Blackburn and the Ribble Valley.

He has been a driving force for grass roots rugby for over 20 years as a player, coach and volunteer for club, county schools union chairperson and as a national volunteer co-ordinator.

John has twice been recognised for his services to local rugby by the RFU, for mini and youth engagement and for promotion of girls’ rugby opportunities.

He has over 30 years secondary school teaching experience, an MSc in Education Management, and is a level 2 qualified RFU coach.

“Working with the didi rugby programme has given me a fantastic opportunity to complete the circle of coaching young people from 18 months to 18 years – something I have been enjoyed doing for every second over the last 20 years.

Son James O’Ryan added: “Having played rugby since the age of 4, I know how much impact sport can have on a young person’s livelihood. Sport – and rugby in particular – has always been a major part of my life. It led me to pursue sport-related studies later on with a goal to be involved in the sport industry in some capacity.

“Now having just finished a master’s degree year at Leeds Beckett studying Sport Business Management, this is the right time for me to combine my academic studies and natural will and determination into a career that is both equally challenging and rewarding at the same time.

Sam O’Ryan says: “All of our boys played rugby from the age of 5 and our house in full of images of muddy lads with smiles a mile wide. I have always been amazed by the community and extended family you gain by being part of rugby and the support we all give each other.

“As a Health Visitor in this district, I am keenly aware that not everyone has access to the opportunities to thrive as my lads have done, so programmes like didi rugby are ideal for promoting physically, socially and emotionally-active children. I particularly love that rugby has a proud tradition of inclusion and welcomes kids of all shapes, sizes, ability, and skillset.”

Book a class in the didi rugbyPreston,  Blackburn and Ribble Valley area

Find a didi rugby class in Cornwall

About didi rugby Cornwall

Contact – 0333 303 0980   facebook for didi rugby Cornwall
cornwall@didirugby.com

Christopher Morrison and Ross Denning – didi rugby Cornwall

“Sports that are fun and engaging is what we’re all about. The fact that it is through rugby, a game that we have tremendous respect for is giant plus”.

“Cornwall has a long history of producing great rugby talent, from its county representation in the national championships to professional and international representation from the likes of Phil Vickery, Luke Cowan-Dickie, Jack Nowell and Lucy Demaine to name a few.

 “We are privileged to work with local rugby clubs and schools to bring the game to girls and boys from 18 months to 6 years. 

“It’s a great privilege to be bringing the didi rugby brand to Cornwall.”

 didi rugby Cornwall have already formed a development link to Truro Rugby Club. Part of the didi ethos is to build partnerships with local clubs to offer youngsters a natural pathway to keep playing the game when they become too old for didi classes at the age of 7

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about didi rugby Cornwall

Find a didi rugby Coventry and Warwickshire

About didi rugby Coventry and Warwickshire

Contact – 07506 191982  
andy.fox@didirugby.com

Andy Fox – didi rugby Coventry and Warwickshire

Hi my name is Andy Fox. I’m currently a kids rugby coach based in Warwickshire. I have two boys aged 12 and 8 who play both rugby union and league locally. As well as coaching young children, I am also Chairman of a large Mini & Junior section for a local club responsible for over 400 children aged U6-U16 and 70 adult coaches. I have a passion for encouraging young children into sport and using the tool of rugby to create fun, engaging activities to enhance a child’s learning, confidence and improve their coordination, speed and balance.

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Find a didi rugby Burntwood and Willenhall class

About didi rugby Burntwood and Willenhall

Contact – 07804 700948  
graham.smith@didirugby.com

Graham Smith – didi rugby Burntwood and Willenhall

I have been coaching for over 30 years, the development of our young children is vital to the legacy of sport and health. I am passionate about helping coaches, parents and young people, in my experience with players at all levels using multi skilled activities is vital to develop.

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Find a didi rugby class in Walsall

About didi rugby Walsall

Contact – 0121 389 2689  
michelle.higgs@didirugby.com

Michelle Higgs – didi rugby Walsall

I have played rugby for over a decade with a break in the middle of that spell to have my daughter and am now in my seventh year at Handsworth Rugby Club.

Rugby is a massive part of my life. My son started playing five years ago and plays for the Colts team at Veseyans RFC. While watching him train one day, I was asked if I would coach a brand new girls team at the club and we are now in our fifth year.

That is where my love of coaching began and I have now also started coaching an older girls team at Erdington RFC, where I am also a first aider and safeguarding officer.

I have already been teaching didi rugby classes in Stone and Stafford before deciding to open didi rugby Walsall so I am fully aware of the benefits our sessions have on children.

I just love teaching the classes because they are so much fun running around with younger children. They always impress me and amaze me with how quickly they can pick stuff up and become so good at it.

I have come across quite a lot of cheeky personalities too and they make me laugh which makes the whole session so much more enjoyable. The kids love it and so do I.

I have always been someone that has loved participating in helping children or children’s activities, so starting up my own classes is something I am very much looking forward to.

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Find a didi rugby class in Worcester

About didi rugby Worcester

Contact – 07703 823020  
alex.matthews@didirugby.com

Alex Matthews – didi rugby Worcester

World Cup winner Worcester Women’s Rugby star Alex Matthews has joined the didi rugby Worcester team.

Alex has been part of the England XVs and Sevens set-up for almost a decade now but had her world thrown upside down when the England Sevens set-up became a casualty of recent coronavirus-related cuts by the Rugby Union (RFU).

Determined to ‘give something back’ to the sport that had made her what she is today, Alex, who has already done some work with didi rugby Reading, began speaking to didi rugby CEO Vicky Macqueen after signing for the Warriors in the Women’s Premier XVs this season.

A partnership was formed and didi rugby Worcester was born to get young children aged 18 months to 6 years playing rugby, learning new skills and having fun.

Alex Matthews says…

“Facing a new future, I wanted to make sure that I am doing something that I have passion for and then didi rugby came along.”

“I have already seen the power of didi rugby and the kids learn so much from it, without even knowing about it. It gets them active and they always have fun. It’s a tremendously well-run and well-organised programme at didi and I am really looking forward to getting involved.”

Vicky Macqueen added: “It’s just amazing to have Alex involved in this launch.”

Book a class in the didi rugby Worcester area