Donna Clark 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…

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

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September 30, 2020September 30, 2020

Young didi coach Caitlin stars in Daily Telegraph article on girls rugby

didi rugby Reading coach and keen rugby player Caitlin Clark smiles next to two happy children

Young didi rugby coach Caitlin Clark is the star of a new feature article in the Daily Telegraph.

The 17-year-old daughter of didi rugby Reading franchise co-owner Donna Clark tells the story of how she has always had to battle against the system as a young female rugby player striving to be able to develop her skills at the same pace as boys.

Having played the game side-by-side boys as a youngster, things changed dramatically when mixed sexes were not allowed to play together from the age of 12.

All of a sudden, boys were playing on bigger pitches, playing longer matches, allowed to push in the scrum and hand-off, while girls were not.

The Daily Telegraph

Caitlin, who has ambitions to reach the England national team as a player, said she felt held back and put down.

She told the Telegraph: “I actually questioned whether rugby was a sport I should be doing. It was almost as if us girls weren’t worthy enough of playing because the rules were – and still are – so different, especially physically. Things were and still are so simplified for girls at that level.”

As a teenager, Caitlin was always bigger than most other girls in her under-13 age group, yet she was forced to train with nine-year-old girls nearly half her size. While boys were allowed to play up an age group, the rules didn’t allow Caitlin to move up into the under-15s.

Changes in the rules

The Telegraph feature goes on to outline Caitlin’s frustrations as a female rugby player and cites other discrepancies and inconsistencies in the grass roots game facing girls, as opposed to boys. With the numbers of girls playing the game increasing, it will be interesting to see if the game’s governing body (RFU) make any changes in the rules and structure in the coming years.

Whatever happens on the playing front, Caitlin is a hugely-respected member of the didi rugby Reading coaching team and is loved by dozens of youngsters she coaches on a regular basis.

Reading co-owner Craig Hunter said: “When didi rugby Reading launched in early 2018, Caitlin came along with Donna Clark, her mum and my business partner, to help us out. She has been with us ever since.

Confidence

“She has developed her confidence and coaching skills throughout this time and is everything we look for in a coach. She has excellent rapport with all the didi superstars and parents alike and is a great role model for them all – but in particular the girls.

“With the development of the girls game at club level going from strength to strength, we are really keen to progress the didi players into club rugby when they are ready to join the Under-6 age groups. As soon as we can get Caitlin on an RFU Level 2 rugby course, we will, and she can then look to lead sessions on her own and build a team of coaches around her to help didi rugby Reading grow.

“Caitlin is also very keen to deliver kids didi rugby parties as soon as we are able to so safely and in line with Government and RFU guidelines, something she will be excellent at I have no doubt. If we could clone Caitlin we would.

didi rugby coach

Mum Donna added: “As a parent, I can’t put into words how proud I am of Caitlin, she has been playing rugby since she was six years old and has always shown great tenacity and passion for the game.

“With such determination, she has gone from strength to strength both on and off the pitch. She never ceases to amaze me with everything she has achieved whether it be at club, county and Centre of Excellence level.

“I have also seen her blossom as a didi rugby coach, she has such patience and can instantly spot a child that might be struggling or needs a bit of extra support and just knows how to make them smile and helps them gain their confidence.

“Her years as a rugby player have helped bring her expertise to a coaching role and through creating her own session plans ensures that every child progresses with the fundamentals of the game, whilst having fun!”

WATCH: Reading coaches delight at ‘hilarious and fulfilling classes’…

January 2, 2020

‘Running around after didi kids is hilarious and fulfilling’ – didi rugby Reading coach

Two didi female coaches speak to the camera at Reading RFC

didi rugby Reading coaching duo Donna Clark and Clare Swadling explain why their classes are both ‘hilarious’ and ‘very fulfilling’.

Along, with Craig Hunter, the duo have helped build an incredible success story in the Berkshire and Reading area not only for their franchise but for the hundreds of local children at schools and classes in the area.

Those kids are now benefitting from the values that didi rugby promotes and enjoying being active, having fun and gaining in confidence.

Speaking at one of their partner clubs, Reading RFC, ahead of a series of didi rugby sessions, Clare said: “We just want to make sure that the children have a chance to play rugby.

“Running around after small people is hilarious and very fulfilling. They are brilliant to be around and they just love you during the classes. It’s like having a group of puppy dogs! For those 40 minutes, they just idolise you.

50 Classes operating

“I love it here and the atmosphere is so different from where I have come from. I think we have 50 classes operating now and we have only been going for 18 months.”

Donna added: “The spread of didi rugby down here has been huge. We have exploded into schools as well and we are offering session every day of the week.

“Those who are too old for didi rugby are moving onto tag rugby and we love that continuity for children to keep them playing the sport.

“We are also involved with special needs schools and have links with the Berkshire Banshees wheelchair team. We try and support all sorts of areas. There’s loads going on.

Reading rugby

“We have an excellent relationship here with Reading RFC but it’s one big family and one big network to attract children and their parents into the sport.

“From speaking to the parents, the children love it. They wake up and say: ‘Is it didi rugby today?’.

“There is a real rapport, they enjoy it and that is what makes them want to come back week after week.”

VIDEO: didi rugby Reading co-owners Donna and Craig explain why the didi rugby franchise model has worked for them…

October 17, 2019November 5, 2019

Tommy is thriving at didi rugby despite Hypermobility Syndrome

Suffering from Hypermobility Syndrome Tommy Oliver laughs with his friends at a didi rugby class

It is no wonder mum Sally Nash is beaming when she tells the tale of her son Tommy Oliver’s battle with Hypermobilty Syndrome.

The five-year-old from Bramley near Basingstoke has a condition where bodily joints easily move beyond the expected range.

As a result, it can be hard to control those joints and they can dislocate easily. Hypermobility Syndrome can also lead to pain, chronic fatigue and a host of other challenges at times too.

With that in mind, it was with trepidation that Sally first took Tommy to a didi rugby class some 18 months ago.

Now, he is thriving. And Sally is grateful for everything that has happened to her lad during his time in a didi rugby shirt.

“When he first started, he couldn’t walk in a straight line, let alone run in one and,” said Sally. “Now, with the help of his didi coaches, he is fully active and runs around taking part in everything. He absolutely loves it.

“His confidence has grown in a massive way. Previously, he would hardly ever leave my side but now we have friends round to play and that is great to see.

“He loves his coaches and calls them didi Donna and didi Caitlin. Tommy often talks about them and we sometimes use them to help change his behaviour at home! We say if he doesn’t improve, we are going to tell didi Donna! It works too.

“He sulks if we have to miss a session for whatever reason. He loves it. It is fun and he is often upset when they are finished.

Hypermobilty Syndrome

“The free taster sessions helped us get him into it. At many clubs, you have to book a term in advance but didi were really flexible and let us see how he got on and coped with the physical demands of the classes.

“They have been really supportive and if he has a bad day with his Hypermobility Syndrome, they alter what they do to make sure he doesn’t feel left out.

“He has come on so much with his motor skills through didi it is amazing. He loves it and we love it too.

One of his coaches is franchise co-owner, Donna Clark.

“Tommy always comes bounding up to us and into class with a big smile on his face and he is clearly thriving. His enthusiasm and giggle is infectious and if I could bottle it, I would,” said Donna.

“There is nothing he won’t try and through his determination and enjoyment of didi rugby, we have seen a huge improvement in his balance and coordination. There really is no stopping him. He is an absolute joy to coach.”

Watch: VIDEO – Italy’s didi rugby pioneers from Colorno visit HQ

What is didi rugby?

September 26, 2019October 22, 2019

Aldermaston RFC in Reading: find a didi rugby class here

Find a didi rugby class: Aldermaston RFC in 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.

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

“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.”

Aldermaston RFC

Recreational Society
AWE Aldermaston
Reading
Berkshire
RG7 4PR

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