kids rugby Archives

January 26, 2021

AMBASSADOR: Professional rugby referee Sara Cox is didi rugby’s latest ambassador

didi rugby ambassador Referee Sara Cox looks to one side and smiles

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.

Career

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.

didi rugby ambassador Sara Cox raises a flag — didi rugby ambassador Sara Cox

“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.”

Sara Cox

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.”

Role model

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

Watch…England star Alex Matthews launches didi rugby Worcester:

December 24, 2020

Vicky’s Blog: “My 2020 felt like it lasted about three years!”

Vicky Macqueen and her team at the launch of didi rugby Worcester with PPE on

didi founder and CEO Vicky Macqueen opens up on an incredible 2020 which has brought untold challenges – but many rewards.

I don’t know about you, but it seems like this year has lasted about three years.

I guess it’s because of the amount of challenges we have faced during the pandemic in 2020, both from a personal and business perspective. Three years’ worth of challenges to overcome…in 12 months.

I am 100% certain I am not alone in feeling that way.

Lost loved ones

Being involved in such a public-facing business as didi rugby, I am fortunate enough to meet some lovely people every week. From speaking to mums, dads, aunts, uncles and grandparents, I have heard stories of struggles and difficulties. People have lost their jobs and, even worse, people have lost loved ones too.

The low point of my year came with ongoing grief of the loss of a loved one. Not to Covid – but to cancer. My beautiful niece Jess passed away in late 2019 after a short battle with a very aggressive cancer called Rhabdomyosarcoma. It is extremely rare in children but she was just nine years old. It was a devastating blow to my family and it has been hard to bounce back in 2020. I’m determined to do what I can to stop other families going through what we have been through and ran the London Marathon to start raising money for research into the condition.

Vicky Macqueen goes through the finishing line after running a marathon — Vicky Macqueen goes through the finish line after running a marathon

The wonderful team here at didi helped me through those tough times and we went on to face many more challenges as a business when the pandemic began to take a hold.

Instead of sitting still when the first national lockdown came about, we quickly developed an online outlet to host our classes. Across the country, our coaches were able to see their didi stars every week. And parents and children alike bought into the ‘new normal’ that we were all trying to get used to. It was great to see and we were able to share some lovely pictures and videos of front rooms, kitchens and gardens being turned into didi classrooms!

Social distancing in 2020

I would like to thank every parent for their help and support during that difficult time. It really meant a lot.

When the Government allowed us to go back to classes with social distancing and reduced numbers, it was important for us not just to tell parents that our covid-safe measures were in place but to show them too.

I remember filming a video which took parents through every step of our measures before, during and after a class and thinking we would have to keep innovating and developing what we did as we welcomed people back.

A coach and child have fun at a didi rugby class

That was a really rewarding time to be the CEO of this business. Not only were parents and children supportive and delighted to be back outside, mixing and having fun but our coaches up and down the country were coming up with new ideas every week. They were truly inspirational as work mates and it was great to be a part of.

We shared ideas on best-practice, safety and ways to do new things in classes with reduced numbers. They say ‘necessity is the mother of all invention’ and this spell certainly proved that.

The numbers in our classes grew as the year went on and restrictions dwindled. Thankfully, we were able to continue classes during Lockdown 2.

We also managed to launch new 2020 franchises in places like Walsall, Leicester, Harrogate, and England star Alex Matthews started classes at didi rugby Worcester.

Alex Matthews, wearing didi rugby kit, laughs — didi rugby Worcester head coach Alex Matthews

There is still clearly some way to go until we are over this pandemic. But with a vaccine being rolled out across the country, there is certainly a great deal of hope in 2021.

I am excited about what lies ahead. didi rugby will continue to grow and I am more determined than ever to spread the values of fun, confidence and activity to as many children aged between 18 months and 6 years old as possible. After the year they have had, it’s crucial to keep our kids active.

As parents, coaches, children…humans, we have been resilient, agile, empathetic and compassionate to one another.

If we can all take that into 2021, I am certain better things are just around the corner.

WATCH: Take on one of Vicky’s ‘Lockdown Challenges’…

December 21, 2020

Find a didi rugby class in Sutton Coldfield at Harvest Fields Centre

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 Centre

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

A rugby player kicks a rugby ball off the ground

Book a Class

December 21, 2020

Find a didi rugby class in Nottingham at Ruddington St Peter’s Rooms

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.

These classes are ideal for children living in: Nottingham, Wilford, Lenton, The Meadows, Lenton Abbey, Ryelands and Clifton.

St Peter’s Rooms

Church Street
Ruddington
Nottingham
NG11 6HD

Ran by didi rugby Nottingham
Contact Marie Chaston – 07853 335425
marie.chaston@didirugby.com

Book a Class

December 7, 2020February 23, 2021

didi rugby Walsall to launch on Saturday 12 December

A poster saying didi rugby Walsall launches on Saturday 12 December

The launch of didi rugby Walsall will take place on Saturday 12 December and head coach Michelle Higgs cannot wait to welcome local children and parents for some free fun and activity.

Handsworth RFC is the host venue for the launch which will see classes for two didi rugby age groups: 18 months to 3 years and 4 years to 6 years.

An extra class for the 18 months to 3 years age group has been put on to satisfy demand.

The local community have reacted so well to the planned start of didi rugby classes that Michelle will be putting on a second free taster weekend the following Saturday with the same times to make sure that everyone can sample a didi rugby day before Christmas.

Memberships will then start after the festive period with regular classes taking place from January 9 onwards.

Head coach Michelle has been playing rugby for 11 years, spent the last six years at Handsworth RFC and has also been coaching girls rugby for the last four years too.

didi rugby Walsall

She has already been part of the didi rugby family for a year, helping to coach in other areas before deciding to launch her own classes.

Michelle said she was looking forward to meeting new faces from Walsall and the surrounding areas and is keen to introduce both parents and children to the values of didi rugby: fun, confidence and activity.

“I enjoy coaching for didi rugby because it’s a different coaching experience to coaching teenagers,” she said.

“Having a run around with the younger children is great. Making the sessions fun and active, seeing them laughing and enjoying themselves, and then watching them improve each week is very rewarding.

Active

“It’s about giving them as much opportunity to be active, healthy and sporty from a young age, which then gives them a great start to a healthy lifestyle as they grow up.

“You get to discover their little personalities and characteristics, and though my job is make to sure they have fun and enjoy our didi sessions, I usually end up walking away just as smiley as they do.

“I absolutely love coaching didi rugby and can’t wait to get going.”

didi rugby founder and CEO Vicky Macqueen will be there to support the launch and she added: “Michelle already knows didi rugby inside out having been a coach for a year.

Class times

“So she is very experienced and knows just how to make sure that her Walsall classes will teach children to grow in both physical literacy and confidence.

“She has partnered with a club in Handsworth RFC who know her well and have been very supportive in the build up to her launch. We are grateful to the local community too for their support and are excited to see lots of smiling faces.”

Class times are….

9.00-9.40: 18 months to 3 years

9.45-10.25: 18 months to 3 years

10.30-11.10: 4 years to 6 years

** To book your child a free taster sessions, email michelle.higgs@didirugby.com or book online by clicking here.

LISTEN: The first didi rugby pod is out now featuring England’s Sarah Hunter – listen here

WATCH: England Rugby star Alex Matthews launches didi rugby Worcester…

November 30, 2020November 30, 2020

Alex Matthews cannot wait for didi rugby Worcester launch

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

Find out more about Worcester Rugby Club here.

November 26, 2020November 26, 2020

The ‘didi rugby pod’ is out now on Spotify, iTunes and more

The much-anticipated first episode of the brand new ‘didi rugby pod’ is out now!

We are delighted that England captain Sarah Hunter was able to join us and talk about our wonderful sport right bang in the middle of England’s battles in the autumn internationals.

Sarah has been a didi rugby ambassador since the early days of the service and she explains why she is as keen as ever to stay involved in spreading the values of didi rugby to children all over the country.

didi rugby founder and CEO Vicky Macqueen brings listeners up to date with what has been an incredible year for the business as support has flowed in despite the constraints of a deadly pandemic.

Spotify and iTunes

The didi rugby pod is presented by former Sky Sports and current Women’s Rugby Pod host, Johnnie Hammond and he is joined by other parents who have some cracking stories to share about their youngsters.

You can listen to the pod here on our website or via all of the usual podcast platforms like Spotify, iTunes, Acast and Amazon Music.

Book your child in for a free taster session at a didi rugby class near you

WATCH: England and Worcester Women’s star Alex Matthews launches didi rugby Worcester soon….

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.

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.

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

November 17, 2020November 25, 2020

Find a didi rugby class in Walsall at Handsworth Rugby Club

Introduce your children to rugby at a young age with didi rugby classes in Walsall at Handsworth Rugby Club. 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: Walsall, Bloxwich, Wolverhampton, Caldmore, Willenhall, Shortheath, Pool Green and Aldridge.

Walsall Handsworth Rugby Club

450 Birmingham Road
Walsall
West Midlands
WS5 3JP

click here to find out more about didi rugby Walsall

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

Book a Class

November 12, 2020November 12, 2020

Zachary’s heart-warming story at didi rugby Leicester

Zachary kicks the ball at a didi rugby session at Birstall Rugby Club

Mum Sarah was upset and frustrated when son Zachary was struggling to fit in after beginning didi rugby classes in Leicester.

Zachary was quite a way behind his peers in terms of his speech, understanding and social skills and Sarah was going through processes to try and help understand Zachary’s needs.

Not wanting her four-to-old to disrupt sessions for other children, she messaged didi rugby Birstall’s head coach, Jenny Burrows and told her that they were thinking of packing it in.

That was the start of a lovely story which has seen Zachary not only continue his classes but begin to flourish. It has been a process which has left Sarah full of praise for Jenny and her mum, Anita, after the work they have put in with the little didi star.

“We decided to take Zachary to a free trial at didi rugby to try and build his social skills,” explained Sarah. “Rugby is popular in both of our families and so we decided to give it a go.

“After a couple of weeks, it was apparent that Zachary was different to the other kids in his class. We gave it a few more weeks but noticed that he was not following instructions and was getting distracted. As a parent, it was embarrassing and frustrating. We were worried that every other parent there would think he was a naughty child.

“So I messaged Jenny and told her how we were feeling and that we were thinking about giving it up. I didn’t want him to disrupt the class for the other children.

Engaged

“Jenny asked me to try for a few more weeks and her mum, Anita took Zachary at his next class for one-to-one coaching and explained they had a plan in place to try and help. They explained that Anita would be Zachary’s one-to-one coach for as long as needed and they adapted some of the tasks to make it easier for him to stay engaged.

“He struggles to process detailed instructions but Anita started working with him and he began to engage with her. It was great to see and started taking the pressure off me and Zachary’s dad about worrying that he was being disruptive to others.

“Anita redirected him when he got distracted, he began relating to her and he has really come on. We have not looked back.

High-five

“Anita is always there for him and we have noticed in the last few weeks that he has started to notice and be aware of the other children more and start to mimic them.

“He loves a high-five and Anita and Jenny are always giving him one. One week, Anita was not there and when she returned the following week, he ran up and hugged her. That’s a really big thing for him.”

Anita and Jenny have already built up a strong following at their Birstall Rugby Club classes. Jenny has recently launched classes at two more of Leicester’s most respected clubs, Oadby Wyggestonians and South Leicester.

They are both delighted with Zachary’s progress and are very keen for it to continue in the right direction.

Excited to go

Sarah continued: “Zachary is far from perfect but he will follow the tasks now and he likes the routine. He is always excited to go to sessions.

“This process has given us some hope and makes you realise that there are nice people out there. Going through a process of trying to find out more about your son, can be very doom and gloom.

“But Jenny and Anita have gone above and beyond to help him and be the best he can be.

“Every children’s group you go to will claim that they are ‘inclusive’ but the reality of it is they that are often not. They simply believe that by allowing a child to attend, it makes them inclusive. That’s not the case and that makes it tough for parents.

Make families feel welcome

“didi rugby team have gone above and beyond for Zachary and they are always very welcoming. If Zachary meets more people like Jenny and Anita as he grows up, he will have a happier life.”

Jenny Burrows added: “I am so pleased that we were able to work with Sarah to find a way to help so that they felt they could keep on attending didi rugby classes.

“Seeing the process that Zachary has made is the best feeling. I truly believe didi is great for all children. We will always do our best to help families and make them feel welcome.”

Watch…. Welcome to the didi rugby pod