During the visit 60 students took part in touch rugby games and skills sessions.

In addition to Lealands High School, four other schools on the programme, Challney Boys School, The Chiltern Academy, Lea Manor High School and Stopsley High School also took part.

As well as meeting teachers and selected students from the above schools, The Duke met with representatives from Denbigh High School and Rokeby High School, which are alumni of the programme, to learn about the positive impact rugby has had on them and their schools. He also met with volunteers from local rugby clubs in Luton.

The Duke became Patron of the All Schools programme in 2013, and became Patron of the RFU in 2017. His Royal Highness is a passionate supporter of the sport and the benefits it can provide for young people.

Bill Sweeney, CEO of the RFU comments: “We are immensely proud that The Duke of Sussex was able to help us celebrate reaching the 750th milestone target for this programme. It is great that we had the opportunity to include the pupils and teachers from a new cluster of schools, along with two schools who have graduated from the programme, and their link clubs.

“Rugby is a sport for all and, through the All Schools programme, a positive legacy has been created for children in 750 schools in England through rugby and its core values, making school life happier and healthier, reducing anti-social behaviour, enhancing learning and increasing self-esteem. We aim to continue growing participation in rugby in the future.”

The RFU launched All Schools in September 2012 as a Rugby World Cup 2015 Legacy programme.

The aim was to increase the number of secondary state schools playing rugby union and to encourage new players to join local clubs.

Recent independent research conducted by Sheffield Hallam University highlights the positive impact that this programme has delivered for schools, students and clubs.

As a result of participating in the programme:

• 85% of schools are positive about their links with local clubs and as a result clubs have an average of 19 new players joining in the first 3 years of All Schools in their area. Over 10,500 students having joined a local rugby clubs from All Schools.
• Participation in rugby has increased in the All Schools since the inception of the programme in 2012. 65% of the players are boys and with over a third being girls taking up the game.
• 71% of students are undertaking more physical activity, 69% are more aspirational and 73% of schools on the programme reported that pupils are more confident.
• Rugby clubs report that All Schools has reinvigorated junior rugby provision. They are able to offer an additional competitive outlet to All Schools’ players, particularly for contact rugby, coached in a safe and supportive way.

Find out more about All Schools here.

Background on schools involved in visit:

Lealands High School – Head Teacher, John Burridge
Joined the All Schools programme in 2019. Linked to Luton RFC.
Lealands High School was fully re-built and re-furbished in 2013 and is a comprehensive Foundation school located on the northern edge of Luton, in Sundon Park. The school provides education for circa 1,000 students aged from 11 to 16. Its core values are respect, responsibility and excellence. The school’s mission is to support each individual to ‘climb the mountain to success.’

Challney High School for Boys – Head Teacher, Daniel Connor
Joined the All Schools programme in 2018. Linked to Stockwood Park RFC.
Founded in 2011, Challney High School for Boys educates circa 1,000 pupils aged 11 to 16. It has a heritage of excellent examination results, sporting achievements and positive contributions to the local community. It is a member of the Chiltern Learning Trust and the home of The Chiltern Training Group. The Chiltern Teaching School Alliance is also based at the school. Its core values are ‘high achievement and access for all are the shared responsibilities’.

The Chiltern Academy – Head Teacher, Ian Douglas
Joined the All Schools programme in 2019. Linked to Stockwood Park RFC.
Founded in September 2018, the Chiltern Academy is a mixed school for 11 to 16 year olds. 210 pupils enrolled at the school in 2018 and there will be 240 joining in September 2019. Although it is a ‘Free School’, the school will follow the National Curriculum with specialist areas of Sport, Engineering and Business. As a new school, the pupils should benefit from an outstanding working environment which will provide a comfortable and enjoyable place to learn, supported by the very latest technologies.

Lea Manor High School – Head Teacher, Gwyneth Gibson
Joined the All Schools programme in 2019. Linked to Luton RFC.
Founded in 1974, Lea Manor High School has circa 1,150 pupils aged 11 to 16. The school’s focus is on creating an academic environment where there is a culture of ‘no excuses’. It aims to educate and empower pupils to navigate their way in a complex and ever-changing world.

Stopsley High School – Head Teacher, Karen Johns
Joined All Schools programme in 2018. Linked to Luton RFC.
Founded in 1949, Stopsley High School is a modern, aspirational school for 1,350 pupils aged 11 to 16. The school believes in the importance of unlocking each student’s potential. Students are encouraged to aim high and dream big, developing strong aspirations and a lasting love of learning.

Denbigh High School – Head Teacher, Donna Neely-Hayes (alumni)
Joined the All Schools programme in 2013. Linked to Stockwood Park RFC.
Denbigh High School is ethnically diverse and in the past rugby has not been the most popular sport. However, through the work of Mr Stewart, the Head of PE, there has been a cultural shift and more players have been getting involved. Last season the Year 8 team won the local All Schools competition and hope to retain their title this academic year.

Rokeby High School – Head Teacher, Charlotte Robinson (alumni)
Joined the All Schools programme in 2012.
Rokeby has now graduated from the All Schools programme and is an example of a school that has embraced rugby, embedding it into the school culture. All the teachers in the PE department are now qualified to teach rugby and students are given opportunities to play both tag and contact.

Courtesy of the RFU

Photo: CBRE

The schools, which stretch across the nation from London, Bristol, Birmingham, to Manchester, Leeds, and Exeter, are 100 of the 400 schools participating in CBRE All Schools – a programme run by England Rugby which provides state secondary schools with a bespoke three-year delivery plan and package of funding, resources and support, to help embed rugby as a sport and ethos in their school.

Each of this year’s ‘graduating’ schools adopted CBRE All Schools in 2013, and have since successfully engaged with girls and boys aged between 11 – 16 years old, and introduced them to the sport, by running rugby training sessions during curriculum time and after school, so that thousands more pupils can experience and enjoy rugby throughout England.

Photo: CBRE

With the help of these schools, the programme, now in its fourth year, has seen over 130,000 state school students last year actively participate in rugby union across England, of which 33% are female, according to research by Sheffield Hallam University.

As well as increasing overall participation to rugby union, research also showed that 70% of young people taking part were more confident as a result.  Evidence also showed that the core values of rugby had also been adopted by staff and pupils alike, with nearly two thirds (63%) of schools reporting pupils showing signs of embodying Teamwork, Respect, Enjoyment, Discipline and Sportsmanship, demonstrating that CBRE All Schools can also have an impact on attitudes and behaviour in classrooms, leaving a positive educational legacy.

Through the programme many students were also trained as ICAP Young Leaders, meaning theyare seeing numbers rise to more than 2,600 students trained across the programme and many went on to join local community rugby clubs across the UK.

Photo: CBRE

Of this year’s graduating schools, there were also positive signs of sustainability, with 95% of schools continuing to provide rugby union as part of their school curriculum, and three quarters of schools have built rugby into their long-term strategy for PE, with demand for the game appearing to be student-led.

Steve Grainger, RFU Development Director said:  “It is great to see so many more people playing and engaging in rugby thanks to CBRE All Schools. The 100 graduating schools should be immensely proud of what they have achieved over the past three years. We are determined to keep the momentum up as we expand the programme further and work towards meeting our target of introducing 750 schools to the programme by Rugby World Cup in Japan 2019.”

Jonny May (Photo: CBRE)

Ciaran Bird, Managing Director at CBRE UK added: “CBRE are very proud of all the achievements that have been made by the students, schools, coaches and clubs across England in ensuring rugby and its values are accessible throughout schools at all levels. Thanks to the persistence and passion of the teachers and coaches, 100 CBRE All Schools are able to provide more children opportunities to learn and develop through the skills and ethos gained through rugby.”

CBRE All Schools began in 2012 as a legacy programme to the Rugby World Cup with the aim of attracting 1 million students, across 750 schools to the sport by the Rugby World Cup in Japan in 2019.

Each of the 100 graduating schools in 2016 was awarded a personalised plaque presented by England Rugby player Jonny May, to mark their individual achievements. The presentation was given at the England v Wales match at Twickenham today, Sunday 29th May 2016.

To mark the occasion and celebrate the positive impact that rugby has and continues to have across the growing community, CBRE All Schools launched its’ ‘Thank You Rugby’ app, supported by England legend Jason Leonard and England international Mike brown.

The App, encourages fans to get behind the sport by changing their social media “profile pictures” and “cover photos” to feature a special ‘Thank You Rugby’ message by selecting a single attribute that rugby has given to them from a selection of over ten options, which include; ‘Confidence’, ‘ Determination’, ‘Skills’, ‘Friendship’ and ‘Respect’. The message will remain there as long as the user wishes.

Report courtesy of CBRE All Schools

Former England Rugby World Cup winners Jason Robinson, Jason Leonard and Lewis Moody and players from Aviva Premiership clubs London Irish, Harlequins and Wasps will join school children and club rugby players, at one of London’s most iconic locations, to play and coach rugby. Trafalgar Square will be transformed into a rugby friendly location, featuring a purpose-built, astroturf rugby pitch and rugby-themed games and information area.

Activities will take place each day from 10.00 – 17.00 and the general public are invited to come down and get involved. Whether it’s playing in a friendly game of O2 Touch Rugby or joining in a taster referee session, there’s something for everyone to take part in or learn about.

• Monday 26^th October – All Schools supported by CBRE. Launched in September 2012, All Schools aims to increase the number of secondary state schools playing rugby union. It is currently working with 400 schools, with the aim of extending the number to 750 by the time of the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan.

• Tuesday 27^th October – O2 Touch. There is a form of rugby for everyone, young and old, male and female and O2 Touch provides a great entry point to the sport, where you can have fun no matter what your ability. The non-contact version of the sport can be played at one of 275 O2 Touch centres and 16 leagues set up around the country. O2 Touch has a target of registering 15,000 players by 2017.

•  Wednesday 28^th & Thursday 29^th October – Keep Your Boots On is designed to raise awareness of opportunities to stay involved in rugby through refereeing and coaching. Since 2013 the RFU, in partnership with QBE Insurance, has trained 2,015 new Level 2 coaches via the QBE Coaching Club. Return To Rugby is a programme running in rugby clubs to encourage former players to return to the game, aiming to bring 5,000 players back through specially designed coaching and social rugby sessions.

• Thursday 29^th October – Rugby Women is a scheme aiming to attract an additional 10,000 females into rugby.  The key focus is encouraging females into the sport with inclusive, enjoyable and informative sessions, whether they’re brand new to rugby, a sofa supporter or a returning player. Over 150 clubs are working in partnership to deliver sessions designed to build confidence in contact and fitness, while providing a playing field for women and girls to discover what makes them strong.

Premiership Rugby will also showcase Rugby4All on Wednesday 28^th Oct – an innovative, nationwide, programme to promote diversity and equality in rugby. The programme aims to increase the number of women and girls involved in the sport, to provide better access for disabled people and to promote the game among Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic groups. The programme aims to provide 7,200 secondary school girls with the chance to play rugby, and support female players to join local rugby clubs. In addition, 480 teachers and volunteers will be trained to support the growth of girls’ rugby.

Steve Grainger, RFU Rugby Development Director, said: “As Rugby World Cup 2015 reaches its exciting climax, our event in Trafalgar Square is a great opportunity for us to show some of the foundations we’ve put in place over the past three years to bring new people into the game, inspire those that have left to return and to ensure that those involved enjoy the best possible experience of rugby.

“We want rugby to be among England’s strongest sports, with clubs thriving and participation at an all-time high, to create a lasting legacy for generations to come.  We are determined to keep the momentum going and will continue to work with our partners to encourage more people to get involved in our sport.

“Rugby World Cup 2015 has inspired people across the country to get involved in the game both on and off the field. So if you’ve drifted away from the sport we’d love to you have back. And if you’ve never played before then we’d love you to come and give it a try. If you want to join in by volunteering, you’d be really welcome. You’ll have experiences and friends that will last a lifetime.”

For more information please visit the Find Rugby website.

Report courtesy of England Rugby

The 15 schools in attendance only took up rugby three years ago as part of the Rugby Football Union’s All Schools which aims to increase the number of secondary state schools playing the game.

Lancaster, along with Brad Barritt, Sam Burgess, Courtney Lawes, Jonny May, Ben Morgan, Rob Webber and Ben Youngs took part in various coaching drills with students ranging from 11-16 years of age before a question and answer and autograph signing session.

Lancaster said: “It was a great activity and all credit to Eccles Rugby Club and the RFU’s development staff for organising the event.  All Schools is a fantastic programme and all these secondary schools in the Manchester area coming here today is great. The England team needs to sit within the community not above it and it is important to give something back.  We have enjoyed the coaching and hopefully the kids have enjoyed themselves.”

All Schools is one of the RFU’s key programmes set up to create a Rugby World Cup legacy.  After three years 400 more state secondary schools are now playing rugby union because of All Schools and the aim is to add another 350 by RWC 2019.

Earlier in the summer Rob Webber joined Geoff Parling at an All Schools tournament at Camberley RFC when schools travelled from across the country for a special training session with the England forwards.

As a big supporter of the programme he said today: “There has been an incredible turn out and it was great to see so many children enjoying the game.   It is a big weekend for rugby in the north of England and as a northerner it is particularly exciting to be here today and to meet and encourage young players new to the game.”

All Schools are identified in regional clusters so they can compete against players at a similar level.  The schools are supported over three years with a tailored programme to meet their individual needs including links to local rugby clubs.   More than 140 clubs are now supporting All Schools and helping players to further develop in their rugby experience.

The attending schools were: Abraham Moss, Broad Oak School, Bury Church of England High School, Chorlton Academy, Loreto College, Manchester Academy, Manchester Enterprise Academy, Manchester Health Academy, New Charter Academy, Oulder Hill, Siddal Moor, St Cuthberts, St Marys’ Catholic High School, St Patricks School, Woodhey School

During his visit, Prince Harry heard how Paignton RFC has developed modern facilities to support the growth of the club and its long-term sustainability, and how it is benefiting the local community. He also met with a few of the club’s volunteers, coaches and players, and watched training sessions of some of the Youth teams on the club’s pitches.

Steve Grainger, RFU Rugby Development Director, explaining the idea behind the investment in social spaces said: “We want rugby clubs to remain an integral part of their local communities and improving their facilities is one way of achieving that aim.  Over four years we’ve invested £10m in helping more than 520 clubs and this year we’ve helped them to improve their social spaces to encourage greater community use and to help attract new members.

“Paignton has delivered an excellent project through their commitment and hard work, and are already reaping the rewards. It is so good to be here today to see the difference that improving a club’s social space can really make.”

Before its renovation, the clubhouse at Paignton was very outdated and had not been improved since the 1980s. Along with a refurbished and extended bar area, new audio-visual equipment and soft furnishings make the clubhouse more appealing and welcoming to a wider variety of people. These new-look facilities have transformed the club environment and this is already translating into increased revenue through attracting more members, more events and external bookings, as well as creating the impetus for the club to improve other areas.

President of Paignton RFC, Norman Harries said: “As Club President I am truly honoured that the club has received this outstanding award. I am especially thankful to everyone who has volunteered their time, effort and financial support.

“To have received a visit from Prince Harry today is really the icing on the cake and it was a great day to mark a special project in the history of Paignton Rugby Club.”

Prince Harry also saw an example of how the RFU’s All Schools programme, of which he is Patron, is developing greater opportunities for young people to enjoy the game and heard about the club’s key role as a local hub for All Schools. He watched students from Paignton School, who only started playing rugby last year thanks to All Schools, being put through their paces by school and RFU coaches.

All Schools, supported by principal partner CBRE, aims to increase the number of secondary state schools playing rugby union. It is currently working with 400 schools, with the aim of extending the number to 750 by the time of the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan. All Schools supports state secondary schools over three years to help them start and sustain playing rugby union, with kit and equipment, coaching, volunteer training and links to local rugby clubs like Paignton RFC.

Article courtesy of England Rugby

Boris takes off with the ball! (Photo: Matt Impey for RFU)

With Rugby World Cup 2015 due to kick-off at Twickenham later today, the Mayor of London Boris Johnson has announced that he is partnering with the Rugby Football Union (RFU) and investing £100,000 from his Sports Legacy Programme to boost grassroots participation in the sport.

To mark London’s role in the competition, the Mayor’s investment will support the RFU’s All Schools programme which will see more secondary state schools playing rugby.

The investment also aims specifically to encourage more women, girls, disabled people and those from ethnic minority communities to try out the sport.

The Mayor announced the new funding today, as he joined England great Jason Leonard and pupils from Haverstock School in Camden for a rugby training session. The Mayor and pupils were also given the chance to see at close quarters the Webb Ellis Cup, the Trophy awarded to the winner of rugby’s most prestigious competition.

The Mayor of London Boris Johnson said: ‘I have absolutely no doubt that Rugby World Cup 2015 will be the best rugby tournament ever, with London playing centre stage in an epic gladiatorial battle witnessed by billions of people around the world. We want this stellar sporting event to inspire more people to get active and I am delighted to be joining forces with the RFU so that thousands of Londoners can learn how to scrum, ruck and maul.’

The Mayor’s funding has been allocated to the following schemes:

• £50,000 towards the RFU’s All Schools programme. Supported by principal partner CBRE, All Schools aims to increase the number of secondary state schools playing rugby union. It it currently working with 750 schools and aims to engage with one million children. The Mayor’s funding will be targeted at five London schools that cater for pupils with special educational needs. These schools will be linked to existing All Schools clusters across the capital to provide a support network and competitive opportunities.

• FreeSport grants to 14 rugby clubs (totalling approx. £20,000). The Mayor’s FreeSport programme, in association with Coca-Cola Zero ParkLives, was set up to encourage more Londoners to try out sport. Sports clubs, organisations, youth groups and community groups can apply for grants of up to £1,500 to run free activities for Londoners, of all ages and abilities, to encourage more people to try sports. So far 75,000 Londoners have taken part in over 1,500 FreeSport projects. The focus of the FreeSport funding announced today will be to get more Londoners trying out rugby.

• Funding will also be used to work with an additional 14 clubs across London to help them to build their capacity to recruit and retain more young people and adults. The focus of this funding will be to engage with women, girls, disabled people and those from ethnic minority backgrounds.

RFU President Jason Leonard said: ‘2015 is a fantastic year for rugby. This investment from the mayor will have a significant impact on All Schools and help us take rugby to even more schools across the capital. We want to give as many young people as possible the chance to enjoy all the game has to offer. I’ve been to a number of these schools and seen how All Schools helps to make school life happier and healthier by reducing anti-social behaviour, encouraging learning and improving students’ confidence and their self-esteem.’

Rugby World Cup 2015 is just one of many major sporting events to have been held in the capital since the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Over the coming years, London is also scheduled to host the European Aquatics Championships 2016; the Track Cycling World Championships 2016; the 2017 IAAF and IPC World Athletics Championships; the Women’s Hockey World Cup 2018; the Cricket World Cup in 2019; and the final of the 2020 European Football Championships.

The Mayor is investing £25m in grassroots sports projects to support London’s promise of an Olympic legacy, creating hundreds of thousands of opportunities for Londoners to get into sport across every London borough. This programme has already benefitted more than 400,000 Londoners with more than 100 sports facilities funded.

Report courtesy of the RFU

With Prince Harry as Patron, All Schools – set up in partnership with the Rugby Football Foundation – has ensured that hundreds more state secondary schools and thousands more pupils are now enjoying rugby in England. The 400 already involved at the start of this new school year will continue to expand, with the aim of extending the number to 750 by the time of the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan.

Prince Harry takes part in activities during the VIP All Schools Visit at Eccles RFC (Photo by Jan Kruger – RFU/The RFU Collection via Getty Images)

In a video message, Prince Harry commented: “It’s no secret that I love top flight rugby, but I’m also a passionate supporter of how powerful the grassroots game is in helping to improve people’s lives: The values it teaches, the enjoyment it brings and the unity it creates.

“We have now reached the crucial milestone of 400 state secondary schools becoming rugby playing schools thanks to the programme. We are well on our way to helping one million students benefit from the game and its development opportunities.”

Linked to more than 140 community rugby clubs, over 60% of All Schools are running a mixed or girls’ programme, with 35% of all the players female. More than 130,000 students took part last season and many have joined a local rugby club and are playing regularly with them. More than 600 teachers were also trained as coaches and match officials.

Prince Harry added: “Thank you to all of you who have supported the programme. And congratulations to all the teachers, coaches, volunteers and above all the young people who are making the All Schools programme such a success.

“With the Rugby World Cup just around the corner, this really is a once in a generation opportunity to deliver the greatest legacy for the game.”

Crucially, Sheffield Hallam University research has shown that 65% of young people taking part in All Schools are more confident as a result.  Confidence has also built with more than 2,000 students trained as ICAP Young Leaders.

RFU Chief Executive Ian Ritchie said: “2015 is an important and exciting year for rugby. We have a commitment to develop the game in England with All Schools a key element in us achieving that. To have reached our milestone of 400 more state secondary schools playing rugby by the Rugby World Cup is testament to all the hard work and commitment put in by so many across the country. It is great to see so many more people playing and engaging in rugby thanks to All Schools. We are determined to keep the momentum up as we expand the programme further over the next four years.”

Education Secretary, Nicky Morgan, said: “The lessons young people learn in rugby benefit them for the rest of their lives.  We welcome the RFU’s All Schools programme which helps more state secondary schools give students from all backgrounds the opportunity to play rugby.  This will ensure children fulfil their potential and achieve their high aspirations.  In the year of England hosting the Rugby World Cup we are also investing in programmes to deliver coaching which will transform the lives of thousands of children.”

Employees from Principal Partner CBRE have been helping the RFU to deliver rugby at All Schools. This coming year more of their staff will be out coaching and refereeing games and encouraging more students to enjoy rugby.

Ciaran Bird, CBRE UK Managing Director said: “Taking part in sport not only has long-term health and well-being benefits but it also develops communication, teamwork and confidence. There is a great opportunity for business to play a role in encouraging more children, particularly girls, to engage in sport. This is why we are proud to be the principal partner of All Schools. To achieve this milestone is fantastic and we look forward to continuing our involvement with All Schools as we help England Rugby work towards its next target of an additional 350 schools in the programme.”

With thousands of young players new to the sport now playing in bespoke rugby shirts designed by pupils at special Canterbury workshops, inspiring players of the future is what All Schools is all about. Many of them would never have played rugby but for the success of this key legacy programme from England Rugby.

For more information visit England Rugby.