The action started early at Sixways last weekend as a team of Northampton Saints supporters helped Warriors Community Foundation give their first taste of touch rugby to homeless youngsters from the Worcester area.
COYS Touch Rugby is an established club made up of Saints supporters competing in Saints’ Summer Touch League and regularly playing friendly matches in the Northampton area, including against HITZ Northampton.
Last Saturday was the first time COYS has taken on a team from another Aviva Premiership club, with Warriors Community Foundation using the opportunity to give youngsters from its flagship Homeless Rugby project the opportunity to try their hand at touch rugby.
The game was played on one of the Sixways training pitches with both teams then sitting with each other for the Aviva Premiership clash between Warriors and Saints.
Worcester’s homeless rugby team has been put together by the Warriors Community Foundation with Worcestershire YMCA, with the aim to raise confidence and self-esteem amongst participants by giving them positive experiences through rugby.
Warriors Community Coach Dave Rogers said the youngsters got a lot out of Saturday’s game despite the 11-3 score to Saints.
He stated: “The lads really enjoyed the game and we’re really positive about the future.
“We hope to arrange several friendlies between now and the end of the season before entering some of the competitions run through the summer.
“We will also look to train the participants as coaches or referees and provide them with opportunities to volunteer.
“Having matches to play is great motivation to get people attending training. The whole day showed the true spirit of the game with 15 people from different backgrounds having a great time playing and watching rugby.”