Goodyear Supports Rugby Safety Programme

Graham Rowntree, England assistant coach and scrummaging coach for the British & Irish Lions tour to South Africa this summer, has launched the IRB Rugby Ready Programme in association with Goodyear at Willenhall RFC near Wolverhampton. More than 30 aspiring coaches received training during the three-hour session in match preparation, techniques and injury prevention and management.

IRB Rugby Ready is a programme developed by the International Rugby Board and run in England by the RFU in association with Goodyear and Sport England. The programme is designed to support coaches, referees, players and Unions in preparing to play by providing best practice models for physical conditioning, technique, injury prevention and injury management.

Rowntree was joined by Goodyear managing director Mark Brickhill as they launched the partnership and met those participating in the unique scheme which aims to train around 4,000 coaches nationwide within the next 12 months. Brickhill believes the IRB Rugby Ready in association with Goodyear scheme fits perfectly with the company’s self-styled image as an expert in safety.

“We are not in the habit of putting Goodyear’s name onto things just to get our brand out there, everything we do with our safety partnership revolves around adding real value through our expertise,” he commented.

“As well as working with Rugby clubs to hand over the equipment for IRB Rugby Ready we will also have a presence in their car parks, utilising our Hi Q network of stores to offer free expertise and advice for safe motoring.

“This partnership is a great opportunity for us to highlight safety on and off the pitch.”

Goodyear will contribute £300,000 over the next three years as the delivery partner, supported by a £75,000 grant from Sport England. The funding will be spent on equipment to ensure the highest standards of safety are maintained.

Rowntree, the former Leicester Tigers prop who was capped 54 times by England, is endorsing the IRB Rugby Ready programme in association with Goodyear.

“Having played at the highest level I was only too aware of the importance of physical preparation and sound techniques for the prevention of injury,” Rowntree said.

“Safety is of paramount importance at all levels of the game from the Under-7s to the veterans and from the Community Game to England Rugby.

“When I was asked to support the IRB Rugby Ready course I was delighted to be able to accept. This is a programme which is relevant to all coaches of the game by putting safety first through practical application as well as giving common sense advice and guidance.

With partners Goodyear fully behind the Start Coaching – IRB Rugby Ready course, coaches will have the benefit of the resources of quality products which put safety first.”

Thomas Godfrey, Sport England commercial director said, “Sport England is pleased to support the RFU in delivering valuable opportunities for people to take part in more sport.

“By improving coaching knowledge and expertise, the IRB Rugby Ready project will provide more rugby players with a quality sporting experience and an ultimately contribute to Sport England’s goal of getting one million people doing more sport by 2012/13.”