Two years after launching the didi rugby Reading franchise, co-owner Craig Hunter explains why it has been such a big success and outlines opportunities to those thinking of getting involved.
“We are very pleased with our journey having started it all off with one days a week at one club, Reading RFC,” he said.
“After one month, I decided to go three days a week at work to develop didi rugby and a few months later, I went full time on didi because the opportunity seemed too good.
“It was a big change for me and the family but I bit the bullet and it has been both hard-work and very enjoyable.
“We are now doing 14 classes a week in the area and are working with three rugby clubs: Reading, Aldermaston and Thatcham.
“Our aim with those clubs is to help grow their minis section and, for example, in Reading’s Under-6s, 14 of their players are from didi classes last year. Our links with clubs enable the children to move seamlessly up to tag rugby when they become too old for didi rugby classes.
didi HQ team
“The siblings of those kids often come along and join in too.”
Craig runs the Reading output with co-owners Donna Clark and Clare Swadling and, with coaches like Umit Akyildiz and Sam Treverton taking on plenty of responsibility too, it’s a well-oiled team.
“We are also in 19 schools doing in-school classes or after school school sessions and we have had five other ones approach us recently too. Word of mouth is key and the didi rugby social media is great too,” Craig continued.
“The job i was doing before was great but I was ready for a change and rugby is my passion. I always wanted to do something like this and a number of my friends have come and got involved too which is great.
“It’s a real team effort in Reading and the didi HQ team have been great support as well. There is fantastic leadership here at didi rugby.”
Craig Hunter
didi rugby founder and CEO Vicky Macqueen said Craig and the rest of his team had done an amazing job.
“Craig, Donna and everyone involved with didi rugby Reading have been superb at spreading didi rugby’s values and engaging with clubs, schools and the local community,” she said.
“They have worked very hard to grow their provision and have shown just what can be achieved with a didi rugby franchise.
“They have proactive and positive all along and it has been a pleasure for us all at didi rugby HQ to see their growth over the last two years. I am sure there is even more to come in the Reading and Berkshire area.”
- If you would like an informal chat about the opportunities available to coach or own a didi rugby franchise, email info@didirugby.com or find out more on our website’s ‘franchising‘ section
Read more: 12 Reasons why you should launch a didi rugby franchise
Watch: VIDEO – didi rugby franchising can be a full-time or part-time venture…
Read more: New didi coach Jenny is also the only Level 6 female referee in Leicestershire.
Watch: See what Craig Hunter thought of didi rugby during his early days with the franchise…
