didi rugby Reading Archives

March 10, 2023March 10, 2023

didi rugby coach Caitlin Clark makes debut for Wasps Women

A lady rugby player called Caitlin Clark smiles while wearing a blue sports top

didi rugby coach Caitlin Clark has made her Premier XVs full debut for Wasps.

It has been a whirlwind few weeks for 20-year-old Caitlin, who developed her love of the game while coaching youngsters at didi rugby Reading classes.

She has also helped out England star and didi franchisee, Alex Matthews at didi rugby Worcester sessions too.

But now, it’s Caitlin’s chance to shine on the big stage as she made her debut against Worcester and looked very much a part of the action.

Centre of Excellence

The game was a thrilling high-scoring affair with visitors Wasps on the wrong end of a 57-28 scoreline.

Caitlin began making moves as a member of England Under-18s while training at the Wasps Centre of Excellence.

She them played for Worcester RFC in Championship 1, while also captaining her Worcester University side, where she is studying Sport Psychology.

didi rugby coach Caitlin Clark with a young boy at a class — didi rugby Reading coach Caitlin Clark a few years ago

Caitlin was called up two weeks ago to train with Wasps senior team and, just two weeks later, signed for them for the rest of the current season.

This means she will combining her studies with travelling back and forth to London.

Franchise holder

It’s something that mum – and didi rugby Reading joint franchise holder – Donna Clark thinks she will take in her stride.

“As parents we are always extremely proud of her tenacity, strength and determination both on and off the pitch,” said Donna.

“Over the last few days, people around her in her life at Worcester have reached out to us to tell us how coachable and dependable she is and how supportive she is of others.

“This only makes us beam with pride and we can’t wait to see what she achieves next!”

Exciting times

It is an exciting time for members of the didi rugby family at the minute.

Along with Caitlin’s news, didi rugby Nottingham coach Charlotte Chaston is making waves within the Loughborough Lightning Centre of Excellence set up.

Meanwhile, didi rugby Leicester franchise owner Jenny Burrows has recently been an assistant referee at an England Under-18 Women’s international.

A girl in a purple rugby top gives both thumbs up to the camera — Charlotte Chaston

didi rugby CEO Vicky Macqueen said: “We are all delighted for Caitlin. She was much loved by the children and parents at didi rugby Reading classes and I am sure her Wasps team mates and coaches feel the same way about her.

“Everyone at didi rugby will be watching her play with interest and can’t wait to see what she can achieve on and off the field.”

WATCH… How to become a didi rugby franchise owner like Donna Clark…

April 27, 2022

Parent Max loved didi rugby so much she is now coaching classes

A didi rugby mother Max and her young son Nathan smile at the camera in their garden

Five-year-old Nathan has joined the long line of children from didi rugby Reading to have come through the didi age groups and decided to continue his rugby journey at a local didi partner club.

Having loved his didi sessions for three years, Nathan will now move up to tag rugby at Reading RFC and will take all of the skills and confidence he has learned with him.

But while he was enjoying his time at didi classes, his mum Max was enjoying it too.

So much so that when she was asked to stand in and help for one particular session, she decided to become a member of the didi rugby Reading coaching team soon after.

“Nathan and I have loved our time with didi rugby,” Max said.

“And that started from his very first trial session at Blue Coat School in Reading, when coach Clare was running the class.

Attention to detail

“They were giving stickers out to say well done to the kids at the end and Clare said it was also someone’s birthday…Nathan’s. I had not even mentioned it to her and that just showed how great their attention to detail was. I was sold at that moment and knew didi was for us.

“Nathan has loved it and worked his way through the age groups. He loves all of the coaches and you can tell Craig loves his job too because it comes out in his coaching.”

Max added: “Nathan is five now and has been coming to didi for three years. Not only does he love the fun side of things but he has learnt so many new skills, as well as the colours and numbers educational side of things too.

Sense of achievement

“I have recently decided to take a career break and when I was asked to help out at a didi session and really enjoyed it, I agreed to do a few more when Craig asked me to.

“I am still doing that and I love it. There’s a real sense of achievement for me. Kids come into a new session shy and holding a parent’s hand. Then to play a part in them enjoying themselves, running up to you as a coach and giving you a high-five is great to see. To see their growth in confidence is astonishing!”

Max will be coaching throughout the summer and will then help out when needed as the autumn term arrives.

WATCH: Why didi rugby has enjoyed years of success…

April 5, 2022April 5, 2022

Ryan is relishing life after didi rugby Reading graduation

A boy in a green shirt is flanked by rugby coaches. Everyone is smiling

Lisa Radford’s son Ryan was ‘always a bit of a bruiser’ and was up on his feet walking around at just nine months!

So, it was no surprise that the family chose rugby as a way for Ryan to use up some of his energy.

A boy in a red tee-shirt smiles as he picks up a rugby ball and teddy bear — Ryan laughs with a didi rugby teddy and ball.

As soon as he was old enough to do so, Ryan joined didi rugby Reading classes at Blue Coat School aged 18 months.

It was the beginning of wonderful three-and-a-half years under the watchful eye of didi Reading coaches like Craig Hunter, who have just waved bye to one of their star pupils as he moves up to play tag rugby for local club Abbey RFC.

Fun and activity

“Ryan just loved didi rugby from his first visit and was running around loving all the fun and activity,” explained Lisa.

“He loved the things like having his ‘listening ears’ on and it was great development for his balance too. On the rare occasion that he was not in the mood for it, the coaches are so good with them and coax them, at their own pace, into getting involved. He has loved it ever since.

“He started developing a pride in what he did and would tell people that he played rugby.

“Coach Craig said that when he turned five, he could move up to a club and that has just happened with us joining Abbey RFC. It won’t be easy to leave didi behind because we have loved all of the games and the coaches too.

didi Reading

“He had his first go at Abbey a few weeks ago and we noticed that step up with a bit less guidance for the children but when he got going, he was so proud of himself. Now, he’s raring to go.

“It has been a relatively easy transition and his confidence has grown after years of great encouragement at didi classes.

“I will always have a good word to say about didi rugby and the people behind it. They have been fantastic and Craig even phoned us to say thank-you and wish Ryan good luck. That’s a lovely touch.”

March 28, 2022March 28, 2022

didi rugby is a family tradition for the Dearing family

Two boys, Jacob and Harrison Dearing, in a green and white top and a red top smile with a rugby ball

Harrison Dearing is carrying on the family tradition and is thriving at didi rugby classes.

The three-year-old is having great fun taking part in didi rugby Reading sessions at Highwood Primary School, following in the footsteps of his older brother.

Jacob Dearing (6) spent over two years in didi classes having got involved as a three-year-old himself.

Now, he has taken the skills and confidence he learned at didi and is putting it to good use in the minis structure at partner club Reading RFC.

A young boy in a green hoodie holds a 'player of the week' certificate aloft — Jacob Dearing

Whether Harrison will follow him when he becomes too old for didi classes remains to be seen. But for now, mum Karen is just happy they have both benefitted from what the didi classes offer.

“Jacob always loved running around when he was little and so we tried him at didi rugby after seeing it for the first time at a local fete.

Confidence blossomed

“His confidence quickly blossomed during classes at Blue Coat School, and the classes helped him to focus his energy too. The coaches’ approach was great.

“Jacob never really liked the warm-ups and would just watch for 5 or 10 minutes before joining in. But the coaches always coaxed him to get involved, with no pressure and, after a while, he just got stuck in straightaway.

“Now, Jacob has moved up, it has been great to see him playing at Reading RFC and he’s loving it. There have been lots of his didi class move up to Reading so he’s already got friends moving up with him.

“The other week he came to watch Harrison at didi and still joined in!

Family time for the Dearings

“Taking them has been something nice to do as a family too. We would all go to watch Jacob when he first started and, inevitably, when we had his younger brother Harrison, he wanted to join in too.

“Harrison loved getting involved in the Zoom sessions that didi did during lockdown and now he’s loving the classes in person.

A you g boy in a red tee-shirt and sun hat smiles while holding a rugby ball — Harrison Dearing

“He was shy to begin with but he loves getting involved and games like ‘foxes tails’ and the ‘obstacle course’.

“Both boys have loved collecting the coloured objects and taking them to the correct bucket. Harrison will count how many he’s got before he puts them in, providing colour recognition and numeracy in one!

“The boys have both loved their classes and their coaches. They are a really nice group of people at didi and have been great with both boys.”

Two boys in rugby shirts smile with rugby balls in their hands — Jacob (left) and Harrison Dearing

WATCH: didi rugby Reading coaches love their ‘hilarious classes’…

October 12, 2021

Find a didi rugby class in Reading at The Hurst Leisure Centre

didi rugby Reading franchise owners Donna Clark and Craig Hunter coach at Aldermaston RFC

Find a didi rugby class in Reading at The Hurst Leisure Centre

Find a didi rugby class at The Hurst Leisure Centre in Tadley. didi rugby Reading is hosting didi rugby classes so you can introduce your child to rugby at a young age. 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.

If you are looking to find a didi rugby class in the area, these sessions would be ideal for parents and children who live in: Aldermaston, Tadley, Baughurst, Bradfield, Burghfield Common, Burghfield, Riseley, Silchester, Mortimer, Swallowfield. They would also be ideal for anyone living in: Theale, Woolhampton, Bramley, Hannington, Pamber End, Pamber Heath and Brimpton Common.

The franchise owners of didi rugby Reading are Craig Hunter and Donna Clark.

“The support from didi was spot on in the build up to launch and the infrastructure was right too. So we took the plunge and went for it full-time and we are confident we will continue to grow with the help of Vicky and team didi behind us,” said Craig.

“Our links with local clubs are important and we are trying to help those without big mini sections so they can use their link with us as stepping stone to build their Under-6s.”

Donna added: “It has been good fun spreading the values of didi rugby through classes, clubs and schools too. Vicky and her team are always on the end of the phone if we need them.”

The Hurst Leisure Centre

Brimpton Road
Baughurst
Tadley
Berkshire
RG26 5NN

Ran by didi Rugby Reading
Contact Craig Hunter – 07798 844202
craig.hunter@didirugby.com

A rugby player kicks a rugby ball off the ground

Book a Class

August 19, 2021

Find a didi rugby class in Wokingham at St Sebastians Memorial Hall

Introduce your children to rugby at a young age with didi rugby classes at St Sebastians Memorial Hall in Wokingham. There are three age groups: 18 months to three years, three to four and four to six.

These classes are ideal for children living in: Earley, Lower Earley, Whitley, Whitley Wood, Shinfield, Tilehurst, Caversham, Sonning, Woodley, Calcot, Twyford, Southcote, West Reading and Prospect Park.

St Sebastians Memorial Hall

Nine Mile Ride
Wokingham
Berkshire
RG40 3BA

Ran by didi rugby Reading

Contact Craig Hunter – 07798 844202
craig.hunter@didirugby.com

Book a Class

August 19, 2021

Find a didi rugby class in Reading at Radstock Lane Community Centre

Introduce your children to rugby at a young age with didi rugby classes at Radstock Lane Community Centre in Earley, Reading. There are three age groups: 18 months to three years, three to four and four to six.

Radstock Lane Community Centre

55 Radstock Lane
Earley
Reading
Berkshire
RG6 5UL

Ran by didi rugby Reading

Contact Craig Hunter – 07798 844202
craig.hunter@didirugby.com

Book a Class

November 26, 2020

Find a didi rugby class in Reading at Highwood Primary School

Introduce your children to rugby at a young age with didi rugby classes at Highwood Primary School in Woodley, Reading. There are three age groups: 18 months to three years, three to four and four to six.

Highwood Primary School

Fairwater Drive
Woodley
Reading
Berkshire
RG5 3JE

Ran by didi rugby Reading

Contact Craig Hunter – 07798 844202
craig.hunter@didirugby.com

Book a Class

October 12, 2020December 30, 2020

Find a didi rugby class in Bracknell at Jennetts Park Community Centre

Introduce your children to rugby at a young age with didi rugby classes at Jennetts Park Community Centre in Bracknell. There are three age groups: 18 months to three years, three to four and four to six.

Jennetts Park Community Centre

1 Tawny Owl Square
Bracknell
Berkshire
RG12 8EB

Ran by didi rugby Reading

Contact Craig Hunter – 07798 844202
craig.hunter@didirugby.com

Book a Class

October 5, 2020December 30, 2020

Find a didi rugby class in Wokingham at Cantley Park

Introduce your children to rugby at a young age with didi rugby Reading classes at Cantley Park in Wokingham. There are three age groups: 18 months to three years, three to four and four to six.

Cantley Park

Twyford Road
Wokingham
Berkshire
RG40 5QG

Ran by didi rugby Reading

Contact Craig Hunter – 07798 844202
craig.hunter@didirugby.com