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News release

December 2011 - NR 66/11

Health and safety body kits out young rugby team

A young rugby team has been gifted playing kit by the local branch of a health and safety charity.

Sandbach RUFC under 8s squad were donated waterproof training tops and gumshields by the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH) Manchester and North West Districts Branch yesterday (Sunday 18 December).

The tops, sponsored by the IOSH branch, will enable the team to train more comfortably through the winter months. And the gumshields, which are encouraged by the RFU from an early age, will prepare the under 8s for next year, when they graduate to mini rugby and learn tackling and scrummaging.

IOSH Manchester and North West Districts chair Deborah Banton said: “It’s a misconception that health and safety professionals want to stamp out any kind of activity where there’s a degree of risk. Risk is an important part of a child’s development – that includes ‘full contact’ sports like rugby. That is why, as a health and safety charity, we wanted to donate equipment to a team that was part of our local community.

“Rugby instils confidence and self-awareness and with the right training and equipment in place to protect youngsters properly, they are able to improve and learn new skills.”

Eight-year-old James Antrobus, who has aspirations to become the Johnny Wilkinson or Toby Flood of the future, said: “I am looking forward to playing in my new top, as it will keep me warm and dry and it will make us feel like a professional team. I’ve now got a lot of adult teeth and I would like to protect them, so I can’t wait to have a gumshield.”

James’ mother, Louise Antrobus, from Ettiley Heath in Sandbach, does admin for the under 8s team. She said the tops would prove to be beneficial as the temperatures plummet and added: “It’s just brilliant that they’ve been donated to the club as items like these don’t come cheap.

“When they arrive at other grounds with the gumshields too they will really look the part, which will make them feel more confident when they play. At this age the team doesn’t wear the club’s official shirt, tie and trousers to attend away matches, so the tops will be a sort of uniform for them.”

IOSH member and Sandbach RUFC under 8s coach and safeguarding officer Rob Amson said: “By providing these tops, IOSH is enabling us to spend funding on important safety fencing around the pitch, as well as more training for coaches.

“The success of a rugby squad goes back to getting the right training – training that helps us to help the youngsters improve at their sport. It’s so important they know techniques that will allow them to play in a way that minimises the risk of injury, which at such an early age can still affect a burgeoning career. After all, as they get older the impacts get bigger, so the gumshields add an extra level of protection.”

Sandbach1

Sandbach RUFC under 8's squad in their new IOSH-sponsored kit with coach Rob Amson

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Notes for editors:

IOSH is the Chartered body for health and safety professionals. With more than 40,000 members in 85 countries, we’re the world’s biggest professional health and safety organisation.

We set standards, and support, develop and connect our members with resources, guidance, events and training. We’re the voice of the profession, and campaign on issues that affect millions of working people.

IOSH was founded in 1945 and is a registered charity with international NGO status.