Club’s New Direction for rugby league success

WIDNES Vikings have teamed up off the pitch with an education, recruitment and training specialist to support more children in the borough’s primary schools to access rugby league.

New Directions Education are a supply teaching agency with offices based across the country.

For the second year in a row, the Vikings and New Directions Education are working together on the Halton Cup initiative which will enable more than 500 children in Widnes primary schools to access coaching.

They will then put their skills to the test at the Select Security Stadium in competitive rugby festivals.

The project’s climax will take place at the Vikings home fixture against Leigh Centurions on Thursday, June 22, when the successful teams from the festivals will compete pre-match for the Halton Cup.

Vikings community integrated director, Richard Munson, said: “I would like to thank New Directions Education for their continued support of the Halton Cup.

“It’s this kind of business support that enables us to take the power of the Vikings to the local community.

“The Halton Cup was incredibly successful in its first year engaging more than 400 children and we look forward to reaching more schools this year and introducing competitive rugby league to children.

“It’s not just about the rugby though, as the project will reinforce key healthy lifestyle messages to children in terms of eating healthy and taking part in regular physical activity.”

Lauran Collins is a recruitment specialist at New Directions Education.

She said: “We are really excited to be involved with this tournament for the second year in a row.

“New Directions Education is a family orientated business which prides itself on being involved with community projects such as the Halton Cup.

“This is a very good opportunity for the children to take part in and play in such an inspiring setting.

“I look forward to attending the tournaments again and excited to see some fantastic games of rugby.

“New Directions pride themselves on building strong and supportive relationships with local communities”