Children who are either currently participating or have taken part in the Tackling Insights programme, supported by Sage Foundation, were invited to attend a Newcastle Falcons’ game against Leicester Tigers earlier this month.

This was an opportunity for them to witness the team in action and apply what they had learned during the programme’s classroom and practical sessions.

The evening began with various activities in the gym, where the participants were introduced to the technology and equipment used to measure data. One of the main tests conducted during the session was speed testing.

The students were joined by members of the Newcastle Falcons team who taught them how speed is measured. They even got to try out the equipment to see how fast they could run. This was an exciting experience for the participants as they were able to apply what they had learned in the classroom to real-life situations.

Before the match began, all attendees were invited to be part of the guard of honour and wave flags as the team made its way onto the pitch. This was a highlight of the evening for everyone, as they got to experience the pre-match rituals of a professional rugby game.

Ahead of the kick-off, all participants were given the task of identifying different measurable factors in the first half, such as the total distance covered by a player and the longest pass.

At halftime, they then had the opportunity to get up close to the action by sitting in the dug-outs and reviewing the data collected from the first half of the game, comparing their findings with the actual results with the Newcastle Falcons performance team. This was a unique opportunity for them to understand how the team uses data and technology to analyse and improve player performance.

Tackling Insights, supported by Sage Foundation, is a programme that aims to inspire participants to consider careers in science, technology, engineering and maths, otherwise known as the STEM subjects. It uses rugby and its core values as a tool to inspire and develop learning through innovation, data and insight.

The programme hopes to make STEM subjects more engaging for young people and is designed to encourage them to develop an interest in STEM. Through this initiative, the participants gain valuable knowledge and experience that can help them in their future careers.