Abu Dhabi Saracens’ youth rugby development programme Little Ruckers is back for a second season and there is a lot on offer.
Having dipped their toe tentatively into the mini and youth rugby pool for the first time last season, Sarries will now introduce competitive games for their youngsters in 2015-16, with aims of having 350 juniors by the end of 2016.
Little Ruckers was started by Will Walker in January 2014, Stephen Hamilton brought on board especially at the beginning of last season to further develop it.
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The new season begins for Little Ruckers on September 16, the ultimate aim this season to create a sustainable stream of youngsters who will hopefully represent the senior Sarries’ team in the future.
“Last year was all about establishing Little Ruckers and the junior programme,” said Hamilton. “It was the first year of getting together. This will be the first season of competitive rugby.”
During his first year, Hamilton has been going into schools in the city with the aim of promoting rugby among youngsters and hopefully encouraging parents to bring their kids along to Little Ruckers.
“Everything we’re doing is long term athlete development, something that’s kind of missing in the UAE,” said Hamilton.
“We’re lucky enough to have ties with Discover Sports, which are going into schools to deliver rugby. The kids can then come to Little Ruckers and then develop through our juniors and eventually seniors.
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“The reasons Saracens has got so much attraction at the moment is because of the ethos we’ve got here, the family idea. We’ve got principles of teamwork, discipline and respect, and enjoying yourself.
“We want to make sure any kid that comes to us will have one on one time with a good coach, be a team player and progress. That’s our key thing.”
After a season of establishing the kids’ programme, Hamilton is now hoping to turn the mini and youth section at the club into a force, much like the senior side were during the previous campaign, winning the West Asia Cup, something Hamilton feels can help Little Ruckers flourish.
“What the seniors have achieved is a massive tool, it’s really important for the seniors to be there to help establish the juniors,” said the Englishman. “Now, from the framework we’ve been delivering in schools, that network is there. All of a sudden we’ve probably got 300-350 kids in our network. By December next year Saracens will probably have contact with at least 350 kids week in week out and that’s going to do wonders for the sport.”
Hamilton said Little Ruckers’ aim for the coming season is to get more and more kids out on the field in a Saracens jersey.
“Whether they come to us having had experience before and can make the step up or coming to us as a newcomer, we want to help them understand the game and start to enjoy it and the environment they’re in.”
One thing Sarries introduced last season was mascots at home games and it is something they will again be implementing this season. Sarries’ first game of the new UAE Premiership season will be a capital city clash with Harlequins on Friday, September 25, and the kids will also be playing their Quins’ counterparts, as well as the first and second teams too.
“The kids have got to see that what they’re doing results in something. It’s all about contact and getting them excited about the sport,” he said.
What: Little Ruckers
Where: Al Ghazal Golf Club
When: Monday and Wednesday evenings plus a weekend fixture. U4s from 16:30-17:15; U5s + from 17:30-18:30
Contact: Will Walker on 052 8049457 or visit www.abudhabisaracens.com
