Tahs Together: New Primary Schools Blitz kicks off in Sydney
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Loading...Not even a flooded school hall could stop the NSW Waratahs from kicking off their new Primary Schools Blitz in Sydney yesterday.
The initiative follows on from the success of the Junior Club Blitz, which received a cracking reception across Sydney in May and June, when players visited all 53 junior clubs involved in Sydney Juniors competitions.
Building on its success, the Primary Schools Blitz kicked off yesterday with a visit to Hornsby Heights Public School in Sydney’s north and will continues throughout the week with players visiting selected schools from the city’s north, south, east and west to share their training, eating and motivation tips and encouragement as well as answering questions, signing autographs and posing for photos.
Faced with a flooded school hall, prop Jeremy Tilse relocated to the classroom for his session with Hornsby students.
“It’s important the kids get to see a role model and learn about their journey to the top and how they achieved success,” explained Tilse, who was accompanied by Sydney North’s rugby development officer, Dave Telfer.
“It’s was great to see how excited the kids were about our visit when we arrived, it made me feel just as good. I love promoting the Waratahs, I believe there’s talent out there and the schools are where we’ll find it.”
Recalling his school days, Tilse knows the opportunity that sports stars have to make an impact on young people.
“I went to Hunter Valley Grammar and I’ll never forget when Olympian Melinda Gainsford-Taylor came to our school,” he said.
“I remember she spoke about applying yourself and putting the effort in but the thing that inspired me the most was when she talked about not everything going your way. There will be some downsides but don’t quit, stick at it and it will eventually turn around.”
Today sees scrumhalf Brendan McKibbin head east to Orange Grove Public School, where he will join up to 200 students from years three to six for a lunchtime skills session.
A further six school visits are scheduled for later this week, with further sessions being scheduled for early 2014.
Thursday will see Willoughby Public School, Coogee Boys Public School and Hills Sports High School targeted, whilst on Friday Manly West Public School, St Brigid’s in Coogee and Fairfield High School are on the agenda. Full details of all visits, including the players attending are posted on the NSW Waratahs facebook events calendar.
Participating schools have been chosen in conjunction with the Australian Rugby Union’s NSW development team, with the emphasis on rewarding schools with a strong rugby culture as well as supporting those who are actively trying to increase their rugby profile.
The visits are part of the NSW Waratahs’ Tahs Together community program which sees players and coaches join supporters and rugby communities across NSW throughout the season.
Through hundreds of activities and events, the NSW Waratahs will meet and interact with supporters from across the state as part of an ongoing community engagement and support program. Each year, Waratahs Rugby contributes well over $1,000,000 to support the development of the community game through grants and payments to the New South Wales Rugby Union.
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