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didi rugby and Leicester Tigers launch exciting new partnership

Leicester Tigers CEO Andrea Pinchen, didi rugby CEO Vicky Macqueen, Leicester Tigers Head of Community, Scott Clarke and the didi rugby and Leicester Tigers mascots
Leicester Tigers CEO Andrea Pinchen, didi rugby CEO Vicky Macqueen, Leicester Tigers Head of Community, Scott Clarke and the didi rugby and Leicester Tigers mascots
(L to R) Leicester Tigers CEO Andrea Pinchen, didi rugby CEO Vicky Macqueen, Leicester Tigers Head of Community, Scott Clarke and the didi rugby and Leicester Tigers mascots

didi rugby are delighted to announce a ground-breaking new partnership with the best-supported rugby club in the country, Leicester Tigers.

As well as being current Gallagher Premiership leaders, Tigers have won the English domestic league 10 times and the European Cup twice. Their Mattioli Woods Welford Road ground holds over 25,000 people, as well as some memorable moments from the club’s 142-year history.

Tigers also have a proud and deep-rooted tradition of support for the local rugby community and the partnership with didi rugby will provide a pathway for the very youngest didi stars, right through to Leicester Tigers senior rugby for girls and boys.

Partnership

The new partnership will also be able to explore opportunities around matchday and schools provisions together and didi rugby look forward to working with Tigers across the whole country to get more children involved in the game of rugby.

The exciting development will run alongside Tigers+, the club’s expansive new programme to encourage more children to play rugby, and we will include pilot schemes to help local clubs with under-7s age-groups as a key source of recruitment of both players and coaches.

Vicky Macqueen, founder of didi rugby and head of the new women’s rugby programme at Tigers, said: “We are thrilled to be able to announce this partnership with Leicester Tigers and I am excited to work alongside the club to inspire children and their families to become involved in the wider rugby family.

Leicester Tigers

“Leicester Tigers share didi’s values in increasing participation in rugby and physical activity, and we want to give opportunities to engage in rugby to as many children and families as possible.”

Tigers chief executive Andrea Pinchen added: “This is another great initiative for the club to be involved in. We are taking a lead in getting people playing rugby as well as watching it, and partnering with a great organisation like didi will help us do this with our Tiger Cubs right across the country.”

didi rugby provides classes for children aged between 18 months and 6 years of age. Sessions are taught under governing body, the Rugby Union’s Early Years Guidelines, which didi rugby CEO Vicky Macqueen helped to devise.

Read more: didi rugby’s high-flying Jaz Joyce is on the crest of a wave 

Watch: What is didi rugby?

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NEWS: England star Manu Tuilagi joins didi rugby as an ambassador

didi rugby ambassador Manu Tuilagi offers a thumb-up

One of the biggest names in world rugby, Manu Tuilagi, has become an ambassador for didi rugby.

With his own family now running around having fun, the powerful centre, who now plays for Sale Sharks after making his name at Leicester Tigers, says he knows the value of getting kids active.

“What an amazing programme didi rugby is, allowing the little ones and their families to get physically active and involved in our great sport of rugby,” said Manu.

“But the most important thing is for the little ones to have fun and enjoy themselves and get a brilliant introduction into our sport through didi rugby classes.”

Manu Tuilagi joins Sale

Having made his debut for Leicester in 2009, Manu made a name for himself as an incredibly powerful runner, like-breaker and tackler and that led to a successful career with both the England national team and the British & Irish Lions.

Tuilagi left Leicester and joined Sale Sharks in 2020 after 11 years at Welford Road.

He remains one of the most iconic figures in world rugby. didi rugby CEO Vicky Macqueen says she is delighted that the man who grew up in Vicky’s home town of Hinckley has joined the didi family to encourage more youngsters to get involved in the sport.

Ambassador

“Manu is a huge figure in world rugby and everyone at didi rugby is buzzing about his decision to become an ambassador for us,” she said.

“What some people don’t know is that Manu is a lovely person and a family man who adores his home life with family and friends.

“Coming from a big family himself with lots of brothers, he knows the importance of play and having fun as a youngster and he will be encouraging children across the country to get involved in didi rugby classes to grow both their skills and confidence, while having fun.”

Read more: England Sevens star Deborah Fleming joins didi rugby as an ambassador

WATCH: What is didi rugby?

 

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didi ambassadors – Sam Vesty

Sam Vesty is a didi rugby ambassador

Former England, Leicester, Bath and Worcester star, Sam Vesty, has become a didi rugby ambassador.

Now enjoying his role as Northampton Saints’ attack coach in the Gallagher Premiership, Sam says he ‘shares the same values’ as didi rugby and wanted to get involved and help spread those values whenever he can.

With three children of his own, Sam says he knows all about the importance of getting youngsters involved in activity and fun at a young age.

“I am privileged and honoured to become a didi rugby ambassador,” said the 38-year-old.

“I wanted to do this because I share the same values as didi rugby of getting kids active and having fun. Classes can also be used as a development tool to help children gain in confidence.

“You can also learn a lot of life skills through rugby like team work, discipline and respect, and these can be carried over into any walk of life.

“So come and join us, find your local didi rugby class and book your child in to enjoy a free taster session at any venue around the country.”

Sam Vesty

didi rugby founder and CEO, Vicky Macqueen, has known Sam a long time from his days as a fourth generation of Leicester Tigers players.

“Sam is a fantastic person, was a very talented player and is now proving himself to be one fo the best coaches in the country,” she said.

“He has very strong family values and has always been very active with his own children: Harry, Max and Charlotte.

“We are honoured to have him join the didi family and can’t wait to get him involved in what we do.”