ULSTER RUGBY SUPPORTS THE PRINCE’S TRUST xl PROGRAMME TO KEEP LOCAL YOUNG PEOPLE IN THE GAME

Pupils from Coleraine College xl club are among 60 of young people from across Northern Ireland who will be participating in a scheme which sees The Prince’s Trust join forces with Ulster Rugby to offer xl clubs the chance to benefit from a series of training sessions delivered by some of the provinces top rugby coaches.

The focus of this scheme, jointly developed by The Trust’s xl Programme Team and Ulster Rugby is to keep young people engaged in education through rugby, with participating pupils from each xl club receiving six training sessions, sports equipment and tickets to a match at Ravenhill to watch the professionals in action.

Ian Jeffers, Director of The Prince’s Trust for Northern Ireland said: “xl clubs provide a personal development programme aimed at young people aged 13-19 who may have experienced a number of difficulties in their educational life.

“Currently 91% of young people completing the xl programme progress to further education, employment or training. This is only possible with the support of the schools that run the programme and with partnerships such as this with Ulster Rugby which give our young people some focus and something to aspire to.”

At the end of each programme The Trust will help signpost any young people who wish to carry on playing rugby competitively, to their local rugby clubs.

Commenting on their partnership with The Prince’s Trust Barry Willis, Community Rugby Manager from Ulster Rugby said: “We were delighted to be asked for our support in helping to deliver such an important and successful programme for schools in Northern Ireland.

“We are delighted to be involved with The Prince’s Trust at Ulster Rugby and will always provide assistance to those who wish to create opportunities for young people.”