Introduce your children to rugby at a young age with didi rugby classes at Cannock Rugby Club in Cannock. There are three age groups: 18 months to three years, three to four and four to six.
Our program is designed to get kids active, teach them new skills and improve their co-ordination, speed and balance. It will also help them learn social skills while they have lots of fun in a positive, safe and friendly environment.
These classes are ideal for people living in Cannock, Broomhill, Oldfallow, Chadsmoor, High Town, Green Heath, Pillaton, Church Hill and Hednesford.
Cannock Rugby Club
Cannock rugby club
Stafford Road
Huntington
Cannock
Staffordshire
WS12 4PD Ran by didi Rugby Stone and Stafford
Contact – Ros Wiggins – 07764 883474
ros.wiggins@didirugby.com
Introduce your children to rugby at a young age with didi rugby classes at Uttoxeter Rugby Club in Uttoxeter. There are three age groups: 18 months to three years, three to four and four to six.
Our program is designed to get kids active, teach them new skills and improve their co-ordination, speed and balance. It will also help them learn social skills while they have lots of fun in a positive, safe and friendly environment.
These classes are ideal for people living in Uttoxeter, Blount’s Green, The Heath, Bramshall, Spath, Highwood and Doveridge.
Uttoxeter Rugby Club
Oldfields Road
Uttoxeter
Staffordshire
ST14 7JX Ran by didi Rugby Stone and Stafford
Contact – Ros Wiggins – 07764 883474
ros.wiggins@didirugby.com
World Cup winner and newly-signed Worcester Women’s Rugby star Alex Matthews has joined the didi rugby team who will be launching didi rugby Worcester.
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).
Alex Matthews
Determined to ‘give something back’ to the sport that had made her what she is today, Alex had already experienced the positive benefits of didi rugby having helped out at didi rugby Reading.
So, when she got talking with didi founder and CEO Vicky Macqueen and then signed to play for Worcester Warriors in the Women’s Premier XVs this season, a partnership began to take place.
Now everything is in place, didi rugby Worcester will become the latest venue to get young children aged 18 months to 6 years playing rugby, learning new skills and having fun. Class venues will be released very soon.
It’s the latest step in an incredible few months for Alex.
Olympics
“When the pandemic began, and we had to leave the Sevens group, nobody knew what to expect,” she said.
“When we found out it was the end of the Sevens programme, it was heart-breaking. We are all desperate to go to the Olympics, and be in the best place possible, so we are currently trying to secure private funding – and that’s ongoing.
“I went through a range of emotions at the time, a lot of uncertainty. What am I going to do with my life? Would I need to go and get a job – a ‘proper job’? I panicked. But then I took a more practical approach and said to myself ‘what’s the rush’? I wanted to make sure that I am doing something that I have passion for and then didi rugby came along.
“didi will give me more of a purpose and it will be great to get young children involved in this sport and also get involved in the local community around Worcester.
Children learn so much from didi
“I have already seen the power of didi rugby and the children learn so much from it, without them even knowing. 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 the launch of didi rugby Worcester.
“Having been involved with classes in the Reading area, Alex is fully aware of the joy our sessions can bring to both parents and children and she knows our ethos inside out.
“Her determination and drive is obvious and her background in the sport is incredible having been involved in the national set-up for a decade.
“We are proud that she has decided to help us get didi rugby Worcester off the ground and can’t wait for the parents in that area to be able to see just how good our classes are for helping their children develop new skills and confidence in a safe environment.”
Founder and CEO Vicky Macqueen has paid tribute to children, parents, carers, coaches and franchise owners who have helped didi rugby bounce back from lockdown and now be in a position where classes across the UK are ‘absolutely booming’.
With regular classes filling up rapidly, areas in places like Sutton Coldfield and Stafford have even added extra sessions to meet demand.
Similarly, the launch of a new didi rugby area in Harrogate, set for September 19, has over 100 children booked in for what is set to be an exciting and busy day.
“It has been astonishing,” said Vicky. “The demand we have seen for our provision has gone through the roof and it has been amazing for our local coaches to see the smiling faces of the children they were entertaining via Zoom during lockdown.
Children play at a didi rugby class
“We spoke as a group of coaches and franchises on a regular basis during lockdown planning our recovery when restrictions had died down. We discussed putting ourselves into a position where we could ‘survive then thrive’ when we were allowed to go back to face-to-face delivery.
“The planning and detail that went into our return was thorough and I would like to thank all of those involved in getting didi rugby classes back up and running and all parents and children who have been quick to trust our safety measures and return to outdoor classes with a smile on their face.”
Indoor and outdoor didi classes came to a dramatic halt – like most other things in the country – when PM Boris Johnson placed the country under lockdown in March.
But local didi coaches across the UK did an amazing job of maintaining engagement with their young stars and parents with online sessions during lockdown.
Classes booming
And since restrictions were lifted, didi HQ were very quick to re-start classes with social distancing and COVID cleanliness at the top of the agenda.
As restrictions have eased, didi classes around the country have seen an incredible influx of interest from parents who are looking for a safe environment to bring their child for some much-needed fun and activity.
With didi cricket also launching in selected areas too, Vicky says she has been overwhelmed by the support of franchise owners and coaches who have committed to returning to class delivery as soon as possible – and the way they have tackled a challenging situation to provide fun and activity for children in their areas.
Get active
And having home-schooled her own two young children through the lockdown period, Vicky says she has since met so many people who were delighted to be able to get out and get active with their kids.
“We have all been in the same boat haven’t we? Stuck inside our four walls with children who were desperate to do what kids do best – get outside, playing and having fun,” added Vicky.
“It has been a tough period for us all as parents but we have come out on the other side and didi rugby – and cricket for that matter – are absolutely booming as a result of some great commitment from our didi team and our parents and children. There are exciting times ahead.”
Find a didi rugby class in Hinckley at Hinckley Parks Primary School
Introduce your children to rugby at a young age with didi rugby classes at Hinckley Parks Primary School in Hinckley.
There are three age groups: 18 months to three years, three to four and four to six.
Our programme is designed to get kids active, teach them new skills and improve their co-ordination, speed and balance. It will also help them learn social skills while they have lots of fun in a positive, safe and friendly environment.
Find a didi rugby class in Swansea at Penlan Leisure Centre
Introduce your children to rugby at a young age with didi rugby classes at Penlan Leisure Centre in Swansea.
There are three age groups: 18 months to three years, three to four and four to six.
Our programme is designed to get kids active, teach them new skills and improve their co-ordination, speed and balance. It will also help them learn social skills while they have lots of fun in a positive, safe and friendly environment.
Find a didi rugby class in Gorseinon at Penyrheol Leisure Centre
Introduce your children to rugby at a young age with didi rugby classes at Penyrheol Leisure Centre in Gorseinon.
There are three age groups: 18 months to three years, three to four and four to six.
Our programme is designed to get kids active, teach them new skills and improve their co-ordination, speed and balance. It will also help them learn social skills while they have lots of fun in a positive, safe and friendly environment.
Find a didi rugby class in Harrogate at Harrogate RUFC
Introduce your children to rugby at a young age with didi rugby classes in Harrogate at Harrogate RUFC. There are three age groups: 18 months to three years, three to four and four to six.
Our program is designed to get kids active, teach them new skills and improve their co-ordination, speed and balance. It will also help them learn social skills while they have lots of fun in a positive, safe and friendly environment.
These classes are ideal for children living in: Harrogate, Pannal, Beckwithshaw, Knaresborough, Birstwith, Follifoot, Hampsthwaite, Ripley, Leathley, Killinghall and Farnham.
Lucy, Mike and Maisie Barnett – didi rugby Harrogate
didi rugby Harrogate, Lucy Barnett, Mike Barnett and Maisie Barnett are dedicated to helping children have fun, be confident and stay active for life.
With their rugby-playing skills and coaching knowledge from multiple sports, they have a passion to get children and young people involved in rugby and all sports, whether that be playing, coaching or refereeing.
didi rugby Harrogate is a family business and those family values are very important to us. It is one of our biggest motivations, which is one of the motivations we share strongly with didi rugby.
Our aim is to create a wider family of parents and children in the local community among which we can share the values gained from a lifelong involvement in physical education and sport.
We will have a supportive, caring, fun and creative environment for our members to enjoy and develop in. We will treat everyone with an individual touch and are passionate about the benefits of involvement in lifelong physical activity and health for all.
Our family team care about helping to develop confident children and believe the core values of rugby can help that development.
Mike Barnett says…
“I have been a primary and secondary teacher in both state and private schools, progressing to become a head of PE and games as well as a director of sport.”
“Alongside this, I played club and county rugby level and then moved into coaching at Championship men’s club level.”
“I progressed to coach the England Women’s A team, where I first met didi rugby founder Vicky Macqueen and was a member of the full England coaching team at the 2010 World Cup. ”
“I am an RFU level 5 coach, one of only 24 to have gained that qualification and am also a senior coach developer working in the RFU (Rugby Union) Coach Education programme.”
“In 2013, I was appointed as RFU Area Manager and in 2018 I moved into a new national position in rugby development as Age Grade Rugby Manager. ”
“As you may have gathered, I am rather passionate about rugby!”
Lucy Barnett says…
“I am a busy housewife with two lovely daughters, Maisie and Martha.”
“When they were younger, I was vice-chair of their school PTA and over the years, I have been actively involved in many local community projects and charities. ”
“Mike and I ran a successful children’s summer sports camp for five years at Harrogate Cricket Club which was great fun!”
“Six years ago, I took on the role of manager for a new women’s team at Harrogate RUFC, alongside Mike, in the role of coaching co-ordinator. The team started in the lowest league and have worked their way up to become a Championship side now.”
“We always encourage new player development and are now proud to also have a second team in the National Women’s League too.”
Maisie Barnett says…
“I am a fully qualified primary teacher with a degree in early years and am passionate about all aspects of children’s learning and development.”
“I also play women’s rugby for Harrogate Ladies 1st XV in Championship 1 North.”
Find a didi rugby class in Leicester at Birstall RFC
Introduce your children to rugby at a young age with didi rugby classes in Leicester at Birstall RFC. There are three age groups: 18 months to three years, three to four and four to six.
Our program is designed to get kids active, teach them new skills and improve their co-ordination, speed and balance. It will also help them learn social skills while they have lots of fun in a positive, safe and friendly environment.
These classes are ideal for children living in: Leicester, Birstall, Belgrave, Rushey Mead, Wanlip, Thurmaston and Humberstone.
