Vantec festival a great success
Newcastle Falcons Community Foundation have been making an impact in Sunderland Schools for the second year running in association with Sunderland-based logistics provider Vantec Europe.
Ten schools took part in this year’s programme, which provided rugby coaching to year five pupils throughout the Sunderland area.
The 2014 Vantec programme culminated on Monday with a festival held at Sunderland RFC. 17 teams from five schools entered the festival, with Hastings Hill School crowned overall winners.
Hastings Hill were one of five new schools involved in this year’s programme, joining alongside Southwick Primary, St Paul’s CE Primary, St Joseph’s of Washington and Diamond Hall School.
Meanwhile George Washington, Fatfield, Highfield, Thornley Close and Redby Primary Schools also took part in the competition for the second year running.
Newcastle Falcons Community Coach Dan Simpson said: “It was great to see so many of the children we have coached at today’s festival; they’ve really enjoyed the sessions in the schools and we have had a great time getting them to this standard ahead of Monday’s competition. A huge thank you to the programme sponsors Vantec who made all of this possible!”‘
Coaches from Sunderland RFC were on hand at Monday’s festival to encourage participants to make the transition from schools tag to club rugby and a great afternoon of rugby was enjoyed by everyone involved.
The Vantec programme is now complete for 2014 but a number of other programmes aimed at spreading rugby throughout the North East are still ongoing through Newcastle Falcons Community Foundation. For more information see the Community section of our website.
