Try Rugby programme 
is returning to Creggan

The Try Rugby project in Creggan for children P4 to Year 8 starts again for another twelve week run this Monday after the success of its initial trial before Christmas.
Pictured at the OLT Creggan, during the launch of the 'Try Rugby' scheme, in conjunction with City of Derry Rugby and Ulster Rugby, from left, Moss Dineen (COD Rugby Director) Kevin Gallagher (DCC Active Community Coach), Daryll Pettican (Ulster Rugby), Michael Allen (Ulster Rugby) and Shaun Bloomfield (Ulster Rugby).Pictured at the OLT Creggan, during the launch of the 'Try Rugby' scheme, in conjunction with City of Derry Rugby and Ulster Rugby, from left, Moss Dineen (COD Rugby Director) Kevin Gallagher (DCC Active Community Coach), Daryll Pettican (Ulster Rugby), Michael Allen (Ulster Rugby) and Shaun Bloomfield (Ulster Rugby).
Pictured at the OLT Creggan, during the launch of the 'Try Rugby' scheme, in conjunction with City of Derry Rugby and Ulster Rugby, from left, Moss Dineen (COD Rugby Director) Kevin Gallagher (DCC Active Community Coach), Daryll Pettican (Ulster Rugby), Michael Allen (Ulster Rugby) and Shaun Bloomfield (Ulster Rugby).

City of Derry Rugby Club in conjunction with Ulster Rugby and Derry City Council launched their ‘Try Rugby’ Project at Bishops Field in Creggan last October.

It ran for twelve weeks and proved to be the most successful project ever run by either Ulster Rugby or Derry City Council in any sport.

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The Project set up a Community Mini Rugby Club for Girls and Boys in the P4 to Year 8 Age group with coaching every Monday evening from 6pm to 7pm.

It embraced local children and their parents and its success will hopefully lead to the same formula to be rolled out to other areas of the city like Bogside, the Fountain, Carnhill/Shantallow and the Nelson Drive and Tullyally area.

Ryan Deighan and Kevin Gallagher from the Sports Department of the Council have been the main drivers in the Primary Schools.

Ulster Rugby has been instrumental in supplying coaching in Creggan through Shaun Bloomfield and David Funston, while they have also provided a mmni-bus for the North West Area, allowing the Creggan Project to access Mini Rugby Coaching at Judges Road at weekends.

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Ulster Rugby’s involvement has been made possible due to the generous support of the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure.

Scott Pollock, Gerard Roarty and Moss Dineen from City of Derry Rugby Club are the originators and drivers of this unique project which could be the forerunner to promoting and growing the game of rugby throughout the communities across the entire city.

The progress that the children have made has been impressive and the appetite to learn has impressed their coaches.

The highlight for the group this term will be to perform at half-time in a game during a City of Derry All Ireland League fixture at Judges 
Road.

This progression will be rewarded with a similar 
half-time game at the Kingspan Stadium, Ravenhill during an Ulster Guinness Pro 12 fixture.

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