A coach has started a Senedd petition for rugby to be added to the Welsh primary school curriculum, but others fear it could put children at risk.
Alex Linney, from Cwmbran, said very few primary schools offer rugby as part of PE lessons but he thinks it could have a positive impact if it’s taught in all schools.
According to Wales’ national curriculum, PE in primary schools is flexible, giving teachers the choice of which sports and activities to teach. The focus is on the skills students develop, rather than specific games.
Alex claims that children are missing out by not playing rugby in their school, ”It’s really unfair that some people have the opportunity and some don’t”.
Alex works with neurodivergent children, and said the sport can benefit pupils of all needs. “To see how they adapt to challenges in rugby and transfer those skills into their everyday lives is fantastic”.
Former rugby player Alix Popham, who was diagnosed with early onset dementia at the age of 40, believes his condition is a result of head injuries sustained during his rugby career.
In 2020, the Welsh Rugby Union allowed the introduction of tag rugby for under 8’s and touch rugby for club matches.
Alix said that introducing contact for primary school children is too soon, adding, “Every contact causes damage to the brain, even if it’s not to the head”.
Cwmbran’s rugby club under-10s team manager, Jenna Stapleton said they’re taking steps to ensure safety for young players and that the transition from tag rugby to contact is gradual.
For coach Alex, the benefits to teaching the sport are clear. He said ”the lessons you learn in rugby are so vital, you get up when you get knocked down, keep going”.
Alex’s petition has now gathered 641 signatures and as a result, the Senedd Petitions Committee will consider the proposal.
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