Balbriggan RFC are greatly honoured to receive the inaugural IRFU ‘Spirit of Rugby’ Award. Club President Eamon Darcy and Club Welfare Officer Lisa Kelly, were presented with this award on Saturday afternoon, at a pre-match reception hosted by the IRFU at the Aviva before the Ireland v Italy Six Nations match.
Earlier this season the IRFU launched the ‘Spirit of Rugby’ initiative. This initiative is intended to promote and embody the core values of the game of rugby, through a series of educational programmes. The Spirit of Rugby programme aims to support players, coaches, volunteers and parents within the game and to educate them about their rights and responsibilities on and off the field. Safeguarding of mini and youth players is also a top priority, ensuring that players develop to the best of their ability in a safe and fun rugby environment.
Balbriggan RFC’s Club Welfare Officer, Lisa Kelly, attended a series of ‘Spirit of Rugby’ workshops throughout the season. Lisa has always been pro-active and diligent in her role as Club Welfare Officer ensuring that coaches and administrators are vetted and trained in all aspects of child welfare and protection. She approached the ‘Spirit of Rugby’ initiative in the same way she has approached her role as Club Welfare Officer applying the principles of the ‘Spirit of Rugby’ to her duties in the club. The club fully bought into this initiative, ensuring that it was compliant in all areas.
The core values of the game of rugby are – Respect, Inclusivity, Integrity, Fun and Excellence. Balbriggan RFC strive to achieve these values in everything that the club does from mini’s through to youths and seniors. This can be seen throughout the season when the club hosts regular blitzes for minis most Sunday mornings. The emphasis at these underage blitzes is on having fun, and learning through fun. This includes the annual Santa Blitz for U7’s, U8’s and U9’s every December. The Santa Blitz is attended by children from clubs across North Leinster and beyond. Proceeds from this blitz are always donated to a charity and beneficiaries have included the Peter McVerry and IRFU Charitable trusts. The club has a successful women’s rugby team and is now developing girls youths rugby as well. Balbriggan is a fast growing town with a very diverse multi-cultural community. Adults and children from every background in the community have been welcomed with open arms into the Balbriggan rugby family.
This award is gratefully received by Balbriggan RFC as recognition for the work of all the volunteers that help make this a great club to be part of. Balbriggan RFC – a club in the heart of the community.
WEEKLY NOTES