USA Rugby kicks off Give the Gift of Rugby campaign
LAFAYETTE, Colo. – USA Rugby kicks off “Give the Gift of Rugby” today, a campaign in collaboration with the 2017 National Development Summit in Baltimore, Md., and Washington DC Youth Rugby. Beginning Dec. 19 through Dec. 23, USA Rugby’s Rookie Rugby program will donate a Rookie Rugby ball to Washington DC Youth Rugby for every new NDS registration.
Washington DC Youth Rugby was founded by Washington Rugby Football Club in 2004 with the goal to bring the sport of rugby to underserved children in Washington, D.C. The organization offers a wide range of programs for children in the under-seven to under-19 age categories and spans across all four quadrants of the nation’s capital to provide a fun and safe after-school activity. Additionally, DC Youth Rugby spends time in local elementary and middle schools as well as DC Parks and Recreation centers, bringing flag rugby programs into schools to expose more non-rugby-playing kids to the sport.
USA Rugby is offering a $20 discount for 2017 NDS registrations Dec. 19-23; use discount code GIFTOFRUGBY2017 when registering to save.
[su_attention url=”http://www.rugbysummit.com/#Register” text=”Register for the 2017 National Development Summit”]
“We decided that the best way to get kids playing at the higher levels was to introduce them to the sport at a young age within the safe confines of flag rugby,” Washington DC Youth Rugby President Brian Mihelic said. “We partnered with Play Rugby USA to teach others how to coach rugby, and now have rugby programs throughout the city. DC Parks and Recreation is looking to make flag rugby a part of their programs at every facility. We expect to introduce rugby to 1,000 boys and girls in 2017. Our program is 100-percent free for all participants, so we rely on generous donations and our fundraising efforts to make this all happen.”
With “Give the Gift of Rugby,” USA Rugby will enable DC Youth Rugby to serve more children. Rookie Rugby balls are sized appropriate to age – Gilbert recommends size three (3) balls for children ages six through nine and size four (4) balls for children ages 10 through 15.
During the same date range in 2015, 40 individuals registered for the NDS in San Francisco. If twice as many members of the community register this year, it would result in rugby balls for programs involving nearly 500 young children. This is a great opportunity to not only gift an NDS registration to a rugby fan, but also give the gift of rugby to a new generation of children in D.C.
USA Rugby’s National Development Summit has always been a fantastic opportunity for local coaches and rugby development. While the NDS is attended by rugby enthusiasts from all over the country, each year the majority of participants come from the surrounding rugby communities. This means the topics discussed – including on-field tactics and off-field administrative duties – benefit the local community in ways that last beyond the Summit weekend. Whether it be through the balls donated through “Give the Gift of Rugby” or the development of local coaching and refereeing infrastructure, USA Rugby’s NDS is a considerable investment in the local communities.
Renaissance Baltimore Harborplace Hotel will host the Summit in 2017. For more information on the agenda and scheduled speakers, or to find out additional details regarding attending, exhibiting, or sponsoring the 2017 National Development Summit, go to rugbysummit.com.
Learn more about Washington DC Youth Rugby’s programs and ways to get involved with its programming via the organization’s website.
If you are unable to attend the 2017 National Development Summit and cannot partake in the “Give the Gift of Rugby” campaign, please consider supporting USA Rugby’s efforts to grow and develop the game of rugby at all levels in the United States with a tax-deductible donation to USA Rugby Trust.
[su_attention url=”/trust” text=”Learn more about gift options and the Trust”]
