Looking to the future with rugby, education and the road to Japan
AS the Wales squad heads to Japan to represent the nation at the 2019 Rugby World Cup, the Welsh Rugby Union, in conjunction with teachers around Wales, has launched an initiative to inspire a whole generation of primary school children to learn through rugby.
WRU community director Geraint John said, “While Wales are flying the flag for the nation in Japan, Dosbarth Digidol WRU is a hugely exciting
initiative which aims to leave a lasting legacy for the future health, well-being and cultural heritage of our nation.
“We know the positive power rugby can harness and we want to share that with a whole generation of children, whether they go on to play, volunteer or support our game in the future.”
Yesterday, the day the squad flew to Japan, more than 250 pupils at Ysgol Santes Tudful, Merthyr, performed a passionate send-off for the team with a rousing rendition of Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau and a team-talk from one year six pupil.
The school was responding to a plea from the Wales team, delivered in person by Wales’ last Rugby World
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Cup captain, Sam Warburton, for creative messages of support from all schools signed up to the project.
This could be anything from a song, poem, speech, creative artwork or imaginative video.
The team will engage with some of the schools that send good luck messages and one lucky class will win tickets to watch Wales’ men and women face the Barbarians at Principality Stadium on November 30.
All participating schools will receive packs to help show their support for Wales this autumn.
Warburton, who is an ambassador for the Cardiff Blues Community Foundation, said: “Anyone who’s involved in rugby understands the physical, mental, social and cultural benefits rugby can impart to people of all ages.
“It’s clear that this programme can take those benefits to thousands of new participants and also help them to reach their potential in and out of the classroom.
“It was fantastic to see the pupils perform their messages of support for the Wales team.
“I vividly remember how much it means to get good luck messages from Wales while you’re far from home during a Rugby World Cup, so I know how much the players will appreciate hearing from our next generation of players, coaches, supporters and volunteers as they bid for success on the world stage.”
More than 250 primary schools around Wales have already signed up to Dosbarth Digidol WRU (WRU Digital Classroom) which is a series of tasks written by primary school teachers – in Welsh first – based on the four purposes of Wales’ new curriculum.
The online learning scheme uses rugby-based resources to help make learning fun, the WRU said.
Classes can watch video clips of Wales players enlisting the help of pupils on various tasks including: designing a new rugby shirt, creating a healthy eating plan and managing Principality Stadium for a day.
At Santes Tudful, Year 6 pupils carried out a range of Rugby World Cup themed numeracy tasks, including a symmetry task based on the flags of participating teams.
The Year 5 class used a rugby ball in a well-being and communication session and Year 2 pupils devised rugby-themed games.
Lynne Rose-Jones, deputy head at Ysgol Santes Tudful, said: “As part of a great team of teachers and educators on this project, we had one focus: to bring Welsh rugby into the classroom.
“The benefits of rugby exist far beyond the game, whether you play or spectate, and we wanted to provide stimulating, interesting and exciting material for the classroom that demonstrated this.
“The project focuses on history, tradition, heart and integrity, coupled with the growth of inclusive rugby, on the field and beyond. The project is unique in that it originated in the Welsh language.
“We saw great benefits as soon as we piloted some of the rich tasks last year. Children who thought they were indifferent to Welsh rugby became captivated. Children, mainly boys, who were usually shy and withdrawn during debates in class and during collaborative work, were now offering ideas and becoming leaders.
“Children felt that there was a purpose to their work. Girls wanted to form a girls’ rugby team at school and teachers who thought they couldn’t teach about rugby, were doing so with ease and confidence. We have now embarked on the world cup themed rich tasks, and so far, the children seem to be enjoying the topic and are eager to follow the Welsh team’s journey.”
One school, Ysgol Bro Allta in Ystrad Mynach, has devoted a member of its teaching staff, Morgan Griffiths, to the delivery of the programme on a full-time basis throughout the school.
Head teacher Delyth Williams said: “This programme provides opportunities to develop the areas of learning throughout the school.”
In order to participate in the competition to win tickets for the Barbarians double-header, good luck messages should be sent to dosbarthdigidol@wru.wales / digitalclassroom@wru.wales. Terms and conditions for the competition can be found on the Dosbarth Digidol WRU online platform.
Primary schools can still sign up to be part of Dosbarth Digidol WRU – go to signup.wrudigitalclassroom.co.uk