Video: Emerging Schools Initiative

The Munster Rugby Development Officers have been extremely busy in recent months bringing rugby to non-traditional rugby schools all over the province as part of the Emerging Schools Initiative.

The Emerging Schools blitzes began last year at U15 level and has expanded this year with U17 teams now involved in their own competitions.

The aim of the programme is to give as many young people as possible the opportunity to play rugby with the venture proving a great success so far.

Munster's Community Rugby Officers are coaching rugby to students, many of whom have never played the sport, in schools from Kerry, West Cork, East Cork, Cork City, North Cork, Tipperary, Limerick, Waterford and Clare.

The top two schools from each region will go into a finals day in Cork and Limerick after Christmas.

Speaking at a recent blitz, Munster Community Rugby Officer Euan Gee said: "It’s a continuation of the U15 blitzes we ran last year. It’s all about keeping the ball alive and continuity.

"We also introduce things like lifting and contesting in the lineouts just to advance the game a little bit.

"The idea to to try and create links between clubs and schools. For instance, we have Coláiste Mhuire, Askeaton, and Scoil Mhuire agus Íde here which both would be linked to Newcastle West RFC.

"So they see coaches coming in from their local clubs into their school to coach and they might go back and play rugby, the 15 a-side game, with their club."

This programme is available to all secondary schools, for further information on the Emerging Schools Initiative, please email info@munsterrugby.ie.