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Peedie Schools Rugby
Children form Flotta Primary School, Eday Primary School. and Papa Westray Primary School. have made the trip into kirkwall over the last two fridays to take part in swimming and rugby as part of their peedie schools trip, the rugby sessions have taken place at Papdale Primary School.
The pupils have practiced speed and agility training to enhance their evasive runing skills, performed ball handling exercises to assist their passing and catching skills and lots of Tag Rugby games. All of the children are aged between Primary 1 and 7 and have contributed well to the sessions.
Bruce Ruthven, Orkneys rugby development officer explains;
"The pupils have done exceptionally well over the last two sessions and have shown great enthusiasm towards their rugby. We have some younger kids who have really proved that their skills are up to standard with the older kids and do not need any additional support. I am really pleased to see the peedie schools again and im sure that they will continue to develop well as rugby players. A few of these pupils will step up to high school next year where they will join the Orkney S1 rugby team so we look forward to their continued development."
Under 14's Update
The Under 14's Squad
Orkney under 14's have taken big steps this season with a combined age group of S1 and S2 players contributing towards training and games. There was an average of 24 players who attended training with the top trainers being Andrew Linklater, Liam Moar, Connor Crawford and Taylor Pilkington-Tait.
Orkney certainly made progress throughout the season with training sessions placing repsonsibilities on the players to organise and coordinate themselves. Coaching practices varied with the requiremnet of the players to understand the roles and responsibilities of the breakdown (tackle) situation and acknowledge the differences between quick and slow ball. The skills of the boys have improved but more work is required with ball handling, game awareness and fitness proving to be key areas.
The Orkney U14s have had some welcomed additions from Stronsay and Sanday to add to the Flotta and North Ronaldsay contingent. The isles boys have contributed hugely towards the squad and have develop very quickly throughout the past few months, well done to these boys and indeed the whole squad for their commitment to the season. Further congratulations to Ben Sutherland, Duncan Gray, Andrew Linklater, David Porteous and Stewart Flett who have been selected for the first stage of the Caleydonia training squad.
Players should keep their eye on the rugby club website, guestbook page for next seasons training schedule.
Isles picture from top left; Duncan Gray - Jordan Leslie - Steven Skea - Andrew Shaw - George Ellis - Gavin Skea - Keith Holland - Craig Stout - Cameron Gray - Gavin Woodbridge.
Andrew Linklater
Andrew McDonald
Gavin Woodbridge
George Ellis
Liam Moar
Tag Rugby Festival sees over 400 School Kids at Picky
Over 400 School Kids Join Bruce at the Tag Rugby Festival
On t he 23rd of April, Orkney RFC Hosted the Community Schools Tag Festival. Schools from all over Orkney mainland and the isles participated with forty five teams from nineteen schools being present which resulted in over four hundren children taking part. Children who were involved were in the P5 -7 age bracket.
All teams played four games throughout the day with kick at 11am. The groups were played as a round robin with games lasting twelve minutes each. Presentations were made at the end of the day to all schools who received certificates for all participants and also received either Scottish Rugby Union water bottles, boot bags or t-shirts.
Orkney RFC Development Officer Bruce Ruthven said "this is the first Tag Rugby Festival to take plave in Orkney and everyone involved has had a brilliant time, alot of organisation has gone into the festival and the only thing that we had no control of was the weather which has turned out perfect. To get so many children playing today and having such a good time is very forfilling for orkney RFC and sets the benchmark for future festivals. The standard of rugby on show has been very high so well done to all the children for their efforts. The day would not be possible if we did not get the assistance fron the Scottich Rugby Union, Small grants council and Orkney RFC who contributed signifcantly towards the financial commitments off the day. Also the volunteers who have helped out have done a terrific job."
Neil McIntosh from St. Andrews P.S. expressed his feeling on the day by saying;
Just to say how impressed I was with the fantastic tag event today.
It ran like clockwork and from the conversations I was having with others throughout the day, everyone was raving about it. Well done to you and all the organisers for a fantastic event and thank you from all involved.
The competing primary schools were as folllows; Firth - Shapinsay - Flotta - Eday - Stronsay - Dounby - Burray - Stromness - Stenness - Orphir - Rousay - Papdale - St. Andrews - Hope - Evie - Northwalls - Westray - Papa Westray - Glaitness - Sanday.
Tag Rugby
On Thursday 25th March pupils from P5-7 at St Andrews School took part in their own mini Tag Rugby Tournament in preparation for the
Tag Rugby Festival which will be held on 23rd April at the Picky
Centre.
Around 30 pupils have shown interest in playing tag rugby since they
had their taster sessions with Bruce Ruthven over the past 2 terms. St
Andrews will enter 4 teams into the tournament and the session on
Thursday helped them work together in their teams and continue to develop their skills amongst their peers.
Neil McIntosh explains; "It's been fantastic opportunity for the pupils and staff to have Bruce come into schools and promote rugby and provide an alternative sport for pupils to participate in."
Bruce Ruthven commented, "St. Andrews have finished their block of coaching with a small festival of rugby which shows that a large number of children now fully understand the laws of the game. They will be entering four teams into the Community Schools Tag Festival and will prove tough opposition for any team. The boys and girls have thoroughly enjoyed the experience and have worked well together. Well done to everyone involved"
St Andrews Primary School Pupils with Bruce
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