The RFL

Faith and Rugby League

The RFL are working with Faith Matters, an organisation working to raise awareness of faith issues, Leeds Met university and clubs in five regions to pilot a project to reach faith communities and to identify and overcome barriers to participation. Batley Bulldogs, Bradford Bulls, Oldham St Annes, Leeds Rhinos and Keighley Cougars are clubs based in areas with high percentage of BME communities that do not currently access rugby league in any significant numbers. All clubs are committed to changing this and to increase participation in all aspects of the game.

In order to encourage participation and to ensure the project is sustainable all the clubs are consulting with local faith forums and faith community centres to discover what faith communities think about rugby league and what can be done to encourage participation.

A Level 1 coaching course for BME participants will take place in 2009 so that local people can be trained to deliver rugby league within their communities, in local schools and of course at rugby league clubs. New coaches will be mentored by club coaches, BME community members or University students in order to support their development and experiences as rugby league coaches. All clubs will also be working to ensure their venues and facilities are as welcoming as possible to members of faith communities both during match days and as a shared space for community members to use and hire.