Extra sessions laid on for didi rugby Harrogate launch

Mike Barnett wearing a didi rugby hoodie

The numbers of excited children and parents attending the launch of didi rugby Harrogate on Saturday 19 September have gone through the roof!

With all scheduled classes across the three didi age groups filling up at a tremendous pace, franchise owners Mike and Lucy Barnett have added another class for their minis (18 months to 3 years old).

And they have promised that if numbers continue to rise, they will not see anyone left out of what promises to be a fantastic day at Harrogate RUFC.

“The response we have received so far has been overwhelming,” said Lucy. “We are really looking forward to welcoming everyone and introducing lots of children to our fun didi rugby sessions.

“Over 40 children have already booked in to the three taster sessions we are offering and, due to the high demand, we have now added another one too.

“If this becomes full, we want to assure parents and children that we will add further classes if necessary. We don’t want anyone to miss out.

“Our aim at didi rugby Harrogate is to get children active as young as possible to aid their development, confidence and skills so we are thrilled that so many little ones want to come along and see what we have on offer.

“It’s going to be a fantastic fun day and we can’t wait to get started on our new didi journey.”

The launch will be didi rugby’s second new area launch since the end of blanket lockdown restrictions. didi rugby Suffolk opened its doors in Leiston last month.

Barnett family

The Harrogate team of Lucy, Mike, Maisie and Martha Barnett will make it very much a family affair with a team that is dedicated to helping children have fun, stay active and grow in confidence.

Mike and Lucy have an extensive background in both rugby and teaching and their popularity in the local area is proving obvious with the amount of interest shown in their launch day and future classes with didi rugby Harrogate.

didi rugby CEO and owner Vicky Macqueen says she is delighted not only for Mike and Lucy and all of the hard work they have put in so far, but also because of the response to didi classes returning across the country since the end of lockdown.

“I am confident that Mike, Lucy and Maisie will do an amazing job spreading the values of didi rugby right across the area in and around Harrogate,” says Vicky.

“They have worked incredibly hard to let people know about didi rugby and the response has been absolutely wonderful from the public.

“We have seen parents flocking back to didi rugby in recent weeks with one of our areas doubling their membership in just six weeks. Parents are keen to get their children active and have responded to our safely-delivered, outdoor classes in numbers.

“We are all really chuffed that didi rugby – and our newly-launched didi cricket sessions too – are thriving after such a tumultuous period in everyone’s lives.

“I cannot thank our children, parents, carers and supporters enough for continuing the spread of didi sports around the UK and beyond.”

  • Keep up to date with the latest news from didi rugby Harrogate by following their Facebook page.

Read more: Read more about the Barnett family and why they are determined to make didi rugby Harrogate such a big success

Find a didi rugby class in Harrogate at Harrogate RUFC

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.

Harrogate RUFC

Rudding Lane
Harrogate
North Yorkshire
HG3 1DQ

click here to find out more about didi rugby Harrogate

Contact Lucy Barnett – 07814 873132  
lucy.barnett@didirugby.com

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About didi rugby Harrogate

Contact – 07814 873132  
lucy.barnett@didirugby.com

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.”

Book a class in the didi rugby Harrogate area