Rugby is gaining ground in Malta, and today’s young players may well be the sporting stars of tomorrow. Jo Caruana discovers the new initiatives taking qualified rugby coaches into schools.
From the outside, rugby can look pretty terrifying. The broken bones, black eyes and threatening scowls so often spotted at professional international games don’t exactly scream the phrase ‘ideal sport for children’.
But thanks to a new initiative sponsored by GasanMamo, hundreds more students and parents will have the opportunity to really get to know the benefits and rewards that come from playing this dynamic sport.
“Rugby is all about respect, not violence,” says Robert Portelli, smiling, a qualified rugby coach, a player with the Falcon Rugby Club and a member of the Malta Youth Rugby Development Committee.
“We do get a lot of people who initially think it is too violent, but we always invite them along to watch a session and they often change their minds.”
According to Mr Portelli, rugby is actually far less dangerous than football. “I used to play handball, and the injuries I got from that far outweigh the ones I sustained playing rugby. As a sport, rugby is all about technique and awareness, and it is those elements that enable players to perform quite aggressive moves without getting hurt.
“In fact, in the years since I started coaching youth rugby, we have never had one injury on the pitch. The only broken arm we’ve had happened while the children were messing around during a party!”
The local rugby scene exploded some 10 years ago, when numerous clubs were set up and a rugby league was established in coherence with international guidelines. Since then, youth rugby has also grown substantially in Malta, with more and more young people are showing an interest in it every season.
According to Mr Portelli, there are currently around 120 boys regularly taking lessons in rugby through the island’s various clubs, and an annual league is held for under-13s, under-15s and under-17s.
While, in previous years, coaching was left in the hands of players with a passion for the sport, new coaching pathways have been put in place to ensure children are mentored correctly and in line with the International Rugby Board.
It seems special emphasis is placed on teaching the mindset behind the sport, as well as its techniques. According to Mr Portelli, there are now five rugby tutors in Malta.
“I am a PE teacher by profession, but it was important for each of us to learn how to work with children of different abilities in a rugby setting and to understand the concerns they may have.
“In the past, parents would call coaches complaining that their children were crying after a gruelling session, but the coach was unable to emphasise with that, assuming that they had to live up to the stereotypically tough image of a rugby player. Today we know better, and are acutely aware of how to work productively with the children we teach.”
Discipline isn’t just a buzzword in rugby, it is an integral part of the game and something that is instilled at every stage. According to Mr Portelli, it is vital for the children to know that without discipline they may end up hurting their best friend or fellow player by mistake.
“We don’t add pressure, but we ensure they understand that their actions have consequences and that safety is paramount. Rugby is about technique, but it is also about teamwork, respect, self-confidence and camaraderie,” he says.
Chatting about the future of the sport on our shores, it seems there is reason for excitement, as Mr Portelli believes the level is improving each year. While past players only discovered a passion for the sport in their late teens or 20s, today’s young enthusiasts are discovering it at age eight or nine.
And things can only improve, as this month sees the launch of Rugby Champions – a specially-designed packaged that will take rugby into schools and hopefully generate interest in the sport.
“GasanMamo sponsor numerous efforts related to youth rugby, and this is the latest one,” says Mr Portelli. “This is completely new, and will give us a much-needed opportunity to be closer to children and to show them what rugby is all about.”
It is one thing to have heard about the sport or to have seen it on TV, but it is another to meet someone who is passionate about it and to discover the many benefits it offers. Students will be coached by professionals and have access to the right equipment.
“It really is going to be a fantastic way of encouraging more young people into the sport and we’re very keen to sign them up,” he adds. “There is so much potential talent in Malta, and it deserves to be given a fighting chance at success.”
Those interested in learning more about youth rugby may wish to attend the upcoming Registration Day, at the Marsa Sports Grounds next Sunday. Budding players, as well as their parents, will have the chance to meet the coaches and players, watch a game or two and sign up.
For more information, contact robertportelli@hotmail.com.
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