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Exciting new start for didi rugby Blackburn and Ribble Valley

Wearing didi rugby tops, Vicky Macqueen and James O'Ryan smiling towards the camera.

The new team at didi rugby Blackburn and Ribble Valley are getting classes across their area into full swing this term.

Following a successful launch back in December 2021, sessions are now running at Clitheroe RFC and Mellor Village Hall and Field, Blackburn (see below for booking details).

New classes will also begin at Pleckgate High School Dance Studio in Blackburn from Saturday 12 February (see below for booking link).

Sessions are for children aged 18 months to 6 years of age.

Wearing didi rugby tops, Vicky Macqueen and James O'Ryan smiling towards the camera.
James O’Ryan (left) and Vicky Macqueen at the launch of didi rugby Blackburn and Ribble Valley.

The classes are run by the rugby fanatic O’Ryan family: John, James and Sam.

They are all determined to spread their love and passion for the sport, encouraging young children to get involved, get active, build confidence and most importantly, have fun. 

didi rugby Blackburn and Ribble Valley

“It’s been really exciting. We’ve had so much fun building and planning for it.” James said. 

“It has been weeks in the planning process and we’re so happy classes are now up and running!” 

John has twice received commendations from the Rugby Union for his services to community rugby for mini and youth engagement and for engagement and for promotion of girl’s rugby opportunities. 

“I’ve been coaching for about 15 years in all different age groups” he said.

Clitheroe RFC

 “I’ve been embedded in the Blackburn and Clitheroe area, helping out at all the schools and different coaching facilities we have here.” 

didi rugby CEO, Vicky Macqueen, attended the launch and said:  “I have been so impressed the level of planning that has gone into this. The amount of effort the guys have put into the launch is amazing.

“Now regular classes are up and running, I am certain John, James and Sam will do a great job of introducing our wonderful sport to youngsters in the area.”

To find out more about attending classes, visit our ‘find a class’ page to book your free taster session at any of our venues.

READ MORE:  Find out more about the launch of didi rugby Blackburn and Ribble Valley. 

WATCH: Manu Tuilagi joins the didi rugby family as an ambassador.

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Find a didi rugby class in Blackburn at Pleckgate High School Dance Studio

Find a didi rugby class in Blackburn at Pleckgate High School Dance Studio

Introduce your children to rugby at a young age with didi rugby classes at Pleckgate High School Dance Studio in Blackburn. 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: Mellor, Lammack, Langho, Beardwood, Ramsgreave & Wilpshire, Roe Lee, Pleasington, Samlesbury, Brownhill

Pleckgate High School Dance Studio

Pleckgate Road
Blackburn
Lancashire
BB1 8QA

Ran by didi rugby Blackburn and Ribble Valley
Contact John O’Ryan – 07905 787160  
john.oryan@didirugby.com

A rugby player kicks a rugby ball off the ground

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Find a didi rugby class in Blackburn and Ribble Valley

About didi rugby Blackburn and Ribble Valley

Contact – 07988 720062   facebook for didi rugby Blackburn and Ribble Valley
john.oryan@didirugby.com

John O’Ryan – didi rugby Preston, Blackburn and Ribble Valley

Family trio John, James and Sam bring several lifetimes of playing, coaching and professional experience to providing fun activities for our smallest friends across Blackburn, Darwen and the Ribble Valley.

We have a superb blend of skills and knowledge, combined with a passion for sports, to encourage and promote all the fantastic positives we know that children can gain from taking part in sports.

We aim to offer a supportive, caring and fun experience at all our venues, reflecting our family values, the values we know didi rugby share and the values we have enjoyed for over 30 years in our rugby journey.

We want our didi rugby friends’ journey to be just as enjoyable, leading to a lifelong love of sport and all the benefits this brings with it like health, confidence, friends, skills and fun.

John is the head coach of the didi rugby franchise for Blackburn and the Ribble Valley.

He has been a driving force for grass roots rugby for over 20 years as a player, coach and volunteer for club, county schools union chairperson and as a national volunteer co-ordinator.

John has twice been recognised for his services to local rugby by the RFU, for mini and youth engagement and for promotion of girls’ rugby opportunities.

He has over 30 years secondary school teaching experience, an MSc in Education Management, and is a level 2 qualified RFU coach.

“Working with the didi rugby programme has given me a fantastic opportunity to complete the circle of coaching young people from 18 months to 18 years – something I have been enjoyed doing for every second over the last 20 years.

Son James O’Ryan added: “Having played rugby since the age of 4, I know how much impact sport can have on a young person’s livelihood. Sport – and rugby in particular – has always been a major part of my life. It led me to pursue sport-related studies later on with a goal to be involved in the sport industry in some capacity.

“Now having just finished a master’s degree year at Leeds Beckett studying Sport Business Management, this is the right time for me to combine my academic studies and natural will and determination into a career that is both equally challenging and rewarding at the same time.

Sam O’Ryan says: “All of our boys played rugby from the age of 5 and our house in full of images of muddy lads with smiles a mile wide. I have always been amazed by the community and extended family you gain by being part of rugby and the support we all give each other.

“As a Health Visitor in this district, I am keenly aware that not everyone has access to the opportunities to thrive as my lads have done, so programmes like didi rugby are ideal for promoting physically, socially and emotionally-active children. I particularly love that rugby has a proud tradition of inclusion and welcomes kids of all shapes, sizes, ability, and skillset.”

Book a class in the didi rugbyPreston,  Blackburn and Ribble Valley area

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Find a didi rugby class in Cornwall

About didi rugby Cornwall

Contact – 0333 303 0980   facebook for didi rugby Cornwall
cornwall@didirugby.com

Christopher Morrison and Ross Denning – didi rugby Cornwall

“Sports that are fun and engaging is what we’re all about. The fact that it is through rugby, a game that we have tremendous respect for is giant plus”.

“Cornwall has a long history of producing great rugby talent, from its county representation in the national championships to professional and international representation from the likes of Phil Vickery, Luke Cowan-Dickie, Jack Nowell and Lucy Demaine to name a few.

 “We are privileged to work with local rugby clubs and schools to bring the game to girls and boys from 18 months to 6 years. 

“It’s a great privilege to be bringing the didi rugby brand to Cornwall.”

 didi rugby Cornwall have already formed a development link to Truro Rugby Club. Part of the didi ethos is to build partnerships with local clubs to offer youngsters a natural pathway to keep playing the game when they become too old for didi classes at the age of 7

Book a class in the didi rugby Cornwall area

about didi rugby Cornwall
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Find a didi rugby Coventry and Warwickshire

About didi rugby Coventry and Warwickshire

Contact – 07506 191982  
andy.fox@didirugby.com

Andy Fox – didi rugby Coventry and Warwickshire

Hi my name is Andy Fox. I’m currently a kids rugby coach based in Warwickshire. I have two boys aged 12 and 8 who play both rugby union and league locally. As well as coaching young children, I am also Chairman of a large Mini & Junior section for a local club responsible for over 400 children aged U6-U16 and 70 adult coaches. I have a passion for encouraging young children into sport and using the tool of rugby to create fun, engaging activities to enhance a child’s learning, confidence and improve their coordination, speed and balance.

Book a class in the didi rugby Coventry and Warwickshire area

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Find a didi rugby Burntwood and Willenhall class

About didi rugby Burntwood and Willenhall

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

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Find a didi rugby class in Walsall

About didi rugby Walsall

Contact – 0121 389 2689  
michelle.higgs@didirugby.com

Michelle Higgs – didi rugby Walsall

I have played rugby for over a decade with a break in the middle of that spell to have my daughter and am now in my seventh year at Handsworth Rugby Club.

Rugby is a massive part of my life. My son started playing five years ago and plays for the Colts team at Veseyans RFC. While watching him train one day, I was asked if I would coach a brand new girls team at the club and we are now in our fifth year.

That is where my love of coaching began and I have now also started coaching an older girls team at Erdington RFC, where I am also a first aider and safeguarding officer.

I have already been teaching didi rugby classes in Stone and Stafford before deciding to open didi rugby Walsall so I am fully aware of the benefits our sessions have on children.

I just love teaching the classes because they are so much fun running around with younger children. They always impress me and amaze me with how quickly they can pick stuff up and become so good at it.

I have come across quite a lot of cheeky personalities too and they make me laugh which makes the whole session so much more enjoyable. The kids love it and so do I.

I have always been someone that has loved participating in helping children or children’s activities, so starting up my own classes is something I am very much looking forward to.

Book a class in the didi rugby Walsall area

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didi rugby launches at two of Leicester’s most popular clubs

A young boy in a Leicester Tigers top plays with a didi rugby ball ahead of the launch of classes at Oadby Wyggestonian RFC

Two of Leicester’s most popular clubs will be hosting the launch of new didi rugby venues during October.

Oadby Wyggestonian (Wyggs) and South Leicester are opening their doors to join the ever-growing didi family and will become part of the didi Leicester set-up which already includes Birstall RFC.

Well renowned in a rugby-mad county, South Leicester will be hosting classes from Saturday 10 October, while Oadby Wyggs will begin a week later on Saturday 17 October.

didi rugby Leicester head coach Jenny Burrows, who is also a busy Level 6 rugby referee too,  has enjoyed some wonderful support from Birstall RFC since launching earlier this year and she says she is delighted to be welcomed in by two more of the county’s favourite clubs.

A young boy in a Leicester Tigers top plays with a didi rugby ball
didi rugby is expanding to Oadby and Wigston in Leicester

“Oadby and Wigston are huge population areas with loads of children who we hope will come and join us for a taster session to see what didi rugby has to offer,” said Jenny.

“Both clubs have got big minis and juniors sections and we can hopefully, over time, provide a conveyor belt of children from our didi age groups, into those who start with tag rugby.

“It’s a great opportunity for us and them to offer our programme in the area and hopefully get children and parents along to join in and have some fun with us.

“There will be lots of parents involved at those two clubs on the playing side and they will want to get their kids involved in rugby from a young age. didi provides that opportunity and enables children to start learning new skills and confidence.

Covid-safe

“While there are extended lockdown measures currently in the Oadby and Wigston area, didi rugby is not adversely affected by that and all classes will be covid-safe and will operate social distancing. As our classes at Birstall have shown, having lots of fun while being safe is perfectly possible!”

didi rugby CEO and owner Vicky Macqueen said it was fantastic to have two more well-respected clubs involved to help promote fun, activity and didi rugby values in such a strong rugby area.

“We have built up relationships with rugby clubs all over the country because we want didi rugby to be merely the start of children’s journey with our great sport,” said Vicky.

Local clubs

“Our idea has always been to host classes at local clubs, get local parents and children involved in the set-up and feeling proud of what they are a part of. Then, when the kids become too old for didi classes, give them a natural progression into the minis section of clubs they already feel home at.

“Oadby Wyggestonian RFC and South Leicester RFC have 150 years of history between them and both are committed to building strong links with their community. We are delighted to become a part of that.

“Jenny Burrows has been doing an amazing since launching at Birstall RFC and she will bring enthusiasm, knowledge and passion to our new venues in Leicestershire.”

*** Contact jenny.burrows@didirugby.com to book your child on for a free taster session at the launches of didi rugby at South Leicester RFC (Oct 10) and Oadby Wyggestonian RFC (Oct 17). *** 

Read more: England star Alex Matthews leading up the launch of didi rugby Worcester

Read more: Book you child in for a taster session at Birstall RFC

WATCH: Hinckley RFC praise link with didi rugby…

 

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Find a didi rugby class in Worcester

About didi rugby Worcester

Contact – 07703 823020  
alex.matthews@didirugby.com

Alex Matthews – didi rugby Worcester

World Cup winner Worcester Women’s Rugby star Alex Matthews has joined the didi rugby Worcester team.

Alex has been part of the England XVs and Sevens set-up for almost a decade now but had her world thrown upside down when the England Sevens set-up became a casualty of recent coronavirus-related cuts by the Rugby Union (RFU).

Determined to ‘give something back’ to the sport that had made her what she is today, Alex, who has already done some work with didi rugby Reading, began speaking to didi rugby CEO Vicky Macqueen after signing for the Warriors in the Women’s Premier XVs this season.

A partnership was formed and didi rugby Worcester was born to get young children aged 18 months to 6 years playing rugby, learning new skills and having fun.

Alex Matthews says…

“Facing a new future, I wanted to make sure that I am doing something that I have passion for and then didi rugby came along.”

“I have already seen the power of didi rugby and the kids learn so much from it, without even knowing about it. It gets them active and they always have fun. It’s a tremendously well-run and well-organised programme at didi and I am really looking forward to getting involved.”

Vicky Macqueen added: “It’s just amazing to have Alex involved in this launch.”

Book a class in the didi rugby Worcester area