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.
Book a class in the didi rugby Burntwood and Willenhall area
didi rugby classes have been given the green light to return to outdoor sessions from March 29.
Provision for schools and nurseries will start three weeks earlier on March 8.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced the decision to allow children’s outdoor sport classes when providing the Houses of Parliament with his ‘Roadmap out of Lockdown’ speech on February 22.
didi rugby founder and CEO Vicky Macqueen said she was delighted with the decision.
“This has been an incredibly hard time for our members at classes around the country,” said Vicky.
“Our little didi stars have missed seeing their friends both at school and at our classes and they have missed interacting with our local coaches who they are used to seeing and having fun with every week.
“And, as a parent of two young boys myself, I know exactly what parents have been going through during this latest lockdown trying to work and homeschool at the same time.
“I am delighted that my own children can return to school from March 8 and I am delighted that our didi rugby classes can re-start outdoors from March 29.”
didi rugby classes saw a huge uplift in numbers after the first national lockdown in 2020 came to an and Vicky says she – and her coaches around the country – are expecting an even bigger uptake this time around.
“It came as no surprise to us that after being stuck inside for so long during last Spring and early Summer, children and parents were desperate to get back to some organised sporting activity,” said Vicky.
“We made sure that, as soon as we got the green light to return, we had safety procedures in place to offer security to children, parents and our incredible band of coaches.
“When parents saw what we were doing to make our classes as safe as possible, the support and trust we got in return was incredible. Our classes filled up again and we made sure that our part of the bargain also included having lots of fun.
“We have been through the process of starting again from lockdown before so we are primed and ready to get our sessions back up and running again and we can’t wait to see our didi stars and their parents back having some fun and learning with us.
“I just want to personally thank our wonderful local coaches, members and ambassadors who have stuck by us during lockdown and supported us by attending the range of online activities we have provided.”
All local coaches will be in touch with current members to inform them of the dates of times of their upcoming classes.
Indoor classes are allowed to resume from April 12.
Anyone parent wanting to book a free taster session for their child can find their local class online at www.didirugby.com under the ‘Find a Class’ tab.
Read more: Schools should be measured on physical activity provision
Watch More: Can you complete Vicky’s Lockdown Challenge…?
didi rugby’s live online coaching sessions on Facebook during the February half-term reached over 30,000 people.
The ‘didi rugby half-term squad’ offered varied skills sessions every morning at 9am – thanks to Vicky Macqueen from didi rugby Midlands, Vicky Alexander from didi Rugby Cobham, Kerri Arlando from didi rugby Grantham, Ros Wiggins from didi Rugby Stone and Stafford and Keith Smith from didi rugby Cheltenham.
And there was also England international Jodie Ounsley and Wales international and coach of didi Rugby South Wales, Robyn Lock doing Skills and Storytime sessions on Wednesday and Friday evening at 6.00pm.
Add to those figures, the numbers from previous Skills and Storytime live broadcasts by the likes of England internationals, Heather Fisher, Nolli Waterman, Natasha ‘Mo’ Hunt and Sarah Hunter mean that over 85,000 people have been reached by didi’s special live broadcasts on Facebook.
didi rugby CEO and founder Vicky Macqueen said the figures showed just how well didi rugby live had engaged with members and their families during the latest lockdown.
“We knew from the first national lockdown in 2020 that our online offerings gave parents and children a big buzz during what was a difficult time at home for everyone.
“So, we were determined to make sure that we kept our didi stars busy, active and having fun during the latest lockdown too. We pledged to keep our members busy and give them something to look forward to every week and, with the help of our amazing didi rugby ambassadors and our wonderful coaches around the country, we have done that.
“Until our classes are allowed to re-start again outside, we will be continuing to make sure our members are engaged and having fun.
“We were determined not just to leave our members to themselves during lockdowns and wanted to give them a chance to engage with their local coaches that they are used to seeing every week, as well as our high-profile ambassadors.
“The feedback we have received from our members has been wonderful and some of the pictures we have been sent of children taking part in our online classes has melted my heart.”
Read more: ‘We are by your side: didi rugby’s pledge to members during lockdown’
WATCH: When will didi rugby classes be back…?
didi rugby’s latest ambassador was eating at a Nandos restaurant when she got some of the best news of her life.
It was so unexpected though, she thought her parents’ surprise card was a complete wind-up.
Jodie Ounsley sat with her mum and dad eating chicken when she prized open an envelope from her mum.
It said: ‘Congratulations on your first professional rugby contract with England’!
When her parents Jo and Phil convinced her it was no joke, confusion turned to shock… and then excitement.
The girl from Yorkshire who was born profoundly deaf in both ears was now an England Rugby Sevens player.
Jodie loved every minute of training with her new team-mates who she said ‘did everything possible’ to make things as easy as possible with communication an obvious challenge on the training and playing surface.
Head coach Charlie Hayter said of Jodie after she joined the camp: “She showed some great physical attributes so we wanted to offer her a contract.
“Since she arrived, she has fitted in really well with the rest of the team and made great progress. Jodie loves a bit of banter and she puts extra hours in to make sure that she really understands what we are doing too.”
Sevens team mate and head coach of didi rugby Worcester, Alex Matthews said Jodie was a joy to be around.
“Fortunately for me, I was Jodie’s mentor in the Sevens programme, which to be honest, I think benefited me more so than her,” said Alex.
“Her resilience and dedication is unbelievable, not only shown through her training and mindset, but also shown off the field through her personal circumstances of overcoming being born profoundly deaf and having integrated into a team sport.
“She’s modest and authentic, with the natural desire to help and inspire others. She’s a brilliant ambassador to have on board at didi!”
While Covid-19 has made her Sevens future uncertain for the time being, she is determined and very driven to be back with a bang when competitive England Sevens rugby returns.
Until then, playing for Sale Sharks and being a didi rugby ambassador are two of the things that will keep her busy – and she is throwing herself into the latter with a live Facebook broadcast in didi’s ‘Skills and Storytime’ online session during the latest national lockdown.
“I was really nervous doing it but wanted to push myself out of my comfort zone,” said Jodie. “But I really loved it and had great fun.
“didi rugby is great for kids. It gets them active, mixing with other children and gets them into good habits at a young age. I am really pleased to be an ambassador and will love getting involved.”
didi rugby CEO and founder Vicky Macqueen added: “Jodie is a joy to be around and her attitude is infectious.
“She was brilliant doing our Skills and Storytime session online (see pic below) and we are absolutely made-up that she has chosen to become a didi ambassador.
“I am sure she will be inspiring lots of other youngsters to take up the sport and join our classes in the coming months.”
Jodie was born without hearing but a Cochlear ear implant and speech therapy has vastly improved her ability to communicate with speech.
Even so, life was far from easy at a mainstream school and she became drawn away from academic pursuits and into the sporting environment. PE, athletics and running were things she loved doing and success soon followed.
She is a five-times champion of the annual ‘Coal Race’ in her native Yorkshire where you literally run for a mile with a bag on coal on your shoulders!
Ju-Jitsu titles arrived in her teens and then she flew to Turkey as a 16-year-old to compete against fully-grown women in the 100m and 200m Deaf Olympics.
By then, rugby was already on the horizon but doctors had warned against the dangers of playing contacts sports like rugby with the implant. Her dad looked into it and was satisfied that that danger would be greatly reduced with a scrum cap on.
“I soon rocked up at my local club, Sandal, with a scrum cap and boots and explained I was keen to play but had hearing issues,” Jodie Ounsley explained.
“They threw me quickly into a side and then threw me onto a pitch where I really didn’t have much of a club what was going on. I found myself on the wing and when I first went for the ball, I literally tripped up over my own shoelace! I picked up the ball and just ran for my life. Somehow, I passed a few people and scored a try. It was exhilarating and I loved it.
Jodie got a place at Loughborough College aged 16 and left home ‘to play rugby’.
There was soon age-range appearances for England but her rugby career really took off after she had recovered from a dislocated shoulder.
Then came the Nandos with mum and dad, an England Sevens deal, a new club in Sale Sharks, the Deaf Sports Personality of the Year 2020 award and a driving ambition to represent Great Britain in the Olympic Games still firmly in her thoughts.
“I would say to anyone who struggles with a disability, just go for it and try rugby,” said Jodie. “Don’t let your disability not be the reason for giving rugby a go.”
Read more: New ambassador Sara Cox joins didi rugby
Read more: didi rugby are by your side during lockdown with online classes
WATCH: MBE Richard Cheetham on why he is supporting didi rugby…
Professional rugby referee Sara Cox is didi rugby’s latest ambassador.
And she is keen to support classes that will teach youngsters the ‘valuable social skills’ to help them grow as individuals from an early age.
Sara first got involved in rugby when she was 14 and represented local clubs Exeter, Saracens and Cullompton before she retired from playing the game at the age of 17.
Undeterred, Sara qualified as a rugby referee, officiated her first international when Italy played Ireland in 2014, added the World Cup in France to her CV and, in 2016, became the first female ref to be centrally contracted by the English RFU.
In 2020, she was assistant referee at the Bath v Wasps men’s game in the Gallagher Premiership, with her first appointment in the middle of a top tier English game surely only a matter of time away.
While’s Sara’s professional career goes from strength to strength, she is also studying for a MSc at Edinburgh Napier University and is determined to encourage as many youngsters as possible to get involved in didi rugby and learn skills to help them succeed in life.
“Getting involved in didi rugby at an early age teaches children lots of different things,” said Sara. “It’s less about the rugby at that age and more about the interaction with other kids and learning social skills along the way.
“In all walks of life, at any age, you will always have to deal with other human beings and the earlier you start to learn the skills required to do that, you can carry that on into adulthood.”
Having been a shining light for women’s progress in rugby, Sara is obviously keen for young girls to take up a sport that has been very good to her.
And she is encouraging girls of any age to take on the challenges that may come their way.
“Humans have challenges in all walks of life and in whatever they do,” said Sara. “We all have hurdles to get over and the challenges do not stop. You have to keep moving with the times and embrace what comes your way.”
didi rugby founder and CEO Vicky Macqueen says the whole didi rugby team is excited to have Sara on board.
“Not only is Sara a wonderful referee and a great person, she is an inspiration to any youngster taking up the sport,” says Vicky.
“Sara has decided to become a didi rugby ambassador and support our efforts to get young people active and having fun. Her determination is a great example to young people and she is a fantastic role model too. ”
Follow Sara on Twitter here
Read more: ‘We are by your side during lockdown’ – didi rugby’s pledge to parents and youngsters
Watch…England star Alex Matthews launches didi rugby Worcester:
Founder and CEO Vicky Macqueen has pledged to children and parents with didi rugby memberships that they will be offered fun, online classes and activities to last them through the latest national lockdown in England.
Having enjoyed an incredibly busy time since the restrictions of the first lockdown were lifted, indoor and outdoor didi rugby classes across the country were forced to stop once again for the foreseeable future on January 5.
Undeterred – and with plenty of experience from the first time around – didi rugby will be providing some exciting online options for its members to keep children engaged, learning and having fun with other members of their family.
Online classes will also enable didi members to see the friendly faces of their local coaches throughout lockdown and take part in a group activity with children they would normally see on a weekly basis.
Vicky will also be posting daily challenges and offering competition prizes to keep children and parents very much on their toes. While the incredibly popular evening ‘story time’ is set to make a return to didi’s Facebook page after England star Heather Fisher read to children every week day during Lockdown 1 back in 2020.
“Never has it been more important for kids to do some physical activity, see a familiar face and have fun,” says former England international Vicky.
“We are determined to make sure that the children and parents who love our sessions still have the opportunity to take part in a didi class every single week for as long as these latest restrictions last for.
“I can promise lots of fun and interaction in a delivery that will be easy to access for every parent on whatever device they choose.
“As soon as the latest pandemic restrictions were announced by the Prime Minister, all of our franchisees got together on a Zoom meeting (pictured) to discuss ideas and share best practice and we left that meeting ready, determined and ambitious in what we could achieve for our members.
“Of course, we would all prefer to be meeting our wonderful didi stars in person but, until we are allowed to again, we are all really excited and can’t wait to get going with our online offering.
“This is a challenging time for parents across the country and I promise to those parents with children in our classes that we are by your side every step of the way and will do whatever we can to keep them active and engaged.”
If you would like to join one of our online classes for a free taster session, please contact your local coaches (check www.didirugby.com or on Facebook) or book in online at: www.didirugby.com/find-a-class.
Read more: Vicky’s Blog: ‘My 2020 felt like it lasted three years!’
WATCH: Remind yourself what fun you can have with Heather Fisher at her didi rugby Storytime sessions…
Introduce your children to rugby at a young age with didi rugby classes at Harvest Fields Centres in Sutton Coldfield. 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: Sutton Coldfield, Hill Hook, Little Aston, Hardwick, Streetly, Four Oaks, Doebank, Meer Green, Wyndley
Harvest Fields Way
Sutton Coldfield
West Midlands
B75 5TJ
Sutton Coldfield RFC ran by didi rugby Sutton Coldfield
Contact Dave Lote – 07964 011104
dave.lote@didirugby.com
Loading...
Introduce your children to rugby at a young age with didi rugby classes at Ruddington St Peter’s Rooms in Nottingham. 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: Nottingham, Wilford, Lenton, The Meadows, Lenton Abbey, Ryelands and Clifton.
Church Street
Ruddington
Nottingham
NG11 6HD
Ran by didi rugby Nottingham
Contact Marie Chaston – 07853 335425
marie.chaston@didirugby.com
Loading...
England and Worcester Women star Alex Matthews cannot wait to launch didi rugby Worcester this Saturday!
With the launch of the initial event having been put back because of England’s second national Covid-19 Lockdown, it’s all systems go for Saturday 5 December at Worcester Rugby Club.
WATCH ALEX MATTHEWS TALK ABOUT THE LAUNCH OF DIDI RUGBY WORCESTER…
And interest has already been so great that extra classes are being put on to satisfy demand for places.
Festivities will get underway at 9.00am and the fun will be going on up until lunchtime.
Times for all three didi rugby age groups are as follows…
18 months – 3 years: 9.00am to 9.40am and 11.00 to 11.40am.
3 years to 4 years: 9.40am to 10.20am
4 years to 6 years: 10.20am to 11.00am
Having been involved with England during their recent games with France home and away, head coach Alex is back playing for Worcester and looking forward to welcoming newcomers to didi rugby.
“I am excited to say that we are bringing didi rugby to Worcester this Saturday,” she said. “They are multi-skilled activity classes that will involve lots of fun and games and I am excited to meet as many of you as possible.”
As with didi sessions across the country, the safety of children, parents, carers, coaches and guests is paramount and there will be plenty of measures in place to ensure that everyone can have fun while staying safe on launch day.
didi rugby founder and CEO ex-England international Vicky Macqueen added: “We have all been waiting a long time to be able to bring the fun and values of didi rugby to the local community in Worcester. Alex, myself and a wonderful group of coaches are really looking forward to putting on a good show to bring smiles to faces of parents and children.”
Book your child’s free taster place by clicking here
Find the launch venue here: Worcester Rugby Club, Offerton Lane, Hindlip, Worcester, Worcestershire, WR3 8TR
Read more: Listen to our brand new didi rugby pod featuring England captain, Sarah Hunter
Find out more about Worcester Rugby Club here.