At the end of last season, the Board made a strategic decision to "turbo-charge" our Schools Programme. The goal was clear: to deepen our community reach, introduce the values of the great game of rugby to the next generation, and—just maybe—unearth the next Joe Heyes.

We appointed Ben Ennals into the Schools Liaison Officer role to expand our school's engagement and by working with Richard Byrom after just six months, the progress achieved is nothing short of remarkable and making a real difference in our local community.

Here is a look at the incredible ground we’ve covered in such a short time:

1. Grassroots Growth & Festivals

Our primary schools engagement is thriving. We’ve moved beyond our core group of existing schools like Barnby Road, Collingham, Middlebeck, and Flintham, while welcoming new partners in Elston, and Swinderby.

The impact is best seen in the numbers:

• Y5/6 Mixed Festival: 250+ children
• Girls Festival: 130+ local girls
• Y3/4 Mixed Festival: 150 children across 16 teams

2. Strengthening Secondary Links

Secondary rugby is back in full swing. Ben has successfully re-engaged schools like Suthers, Tuxford, and Magnus, while welcoming Priory Belvoir and South Wolds for their first-ever seasons to our weekly festivals. Our partnership with Newark Academy is blossoming, featuring regular Y7 sessions and the launch of a new Girls After-School Rugby Club.

3. Building Leaders & Mentors

This programme is about more than just what happens on the pitch; it’s also about developing character through the adoption of Rugby Values (TREDS).

• Mentoring: Ben has developed and delivered two mentoring pilots at Sir Donald Bailey School, supporting 60 students at risk of exclusion. The feedback from pupils and teachers has been outstanding and the learnings from these pilots will feed into the formation of our new Rugby Foundation Trust.

• Refereeing & Coaching: Ben has created and delivered an in-house Tag Rugby Refereeing Qualification, training Newark Academy students to officiate at our Primary festivals.

• Sports Leaders: New pilots are being rolled out at Collingham and Barnby Road to develop the next generation of young coaches, introducing KS1 children to fun rugby activities.

4. Clear Pathways to the Club

Through Open Days and the YouCanDoSport Post-16 pathway, we are showing young players that studying rugby in Newark can lead to lifelong opportunities within the local area.

Alongside this, through our partnership with DBC Training, we are beginning to introduce apprenticeship pathways—providing players with access to education, training and employment opportunities as part of their journey beyond school and rugby.

We are also now tracking school attendance data for U11 through U16, allowing us to better support players as they transition from playing school rugby to club membership.

A Huge Thank You

The energy around the club is unmistakable, driven by the tireless efforts of Ben and Richard. This season has marked a significant step forward—we’ve boosted rugby engagement within our community, rebuilt key relationships with local schools, and set out a clear vision for the future expansion of Community Rugby.

Alongside this, considerable work has gone into establishing our Rugby Community Trust, which will play a key role in linking sport with education, apprenticeships and employment support. More exciting updates will follow this summer once CIO registration is finalised.

Please join us in thanking Ben and Richard for their dedication. We are building a stronger club and a stronger rugby community.

Alan Staines
Newark Rugby Club Board