The Oldham RL RISE programme is now up and running. We are doing it in partnership with Leeds Rhinos because Leeds are already in Oldham at the Sixth-Form College and have been for the past three years.
After a meeting between representatives of the RFL, Leeds Rhinos, Oldham RLFC and Oldham Amateur Rugby League coaches, we decided to form a partnership with Leeds Rhinos and run the Oldham RL RISE programme, writes JOE WARBURTON.
This falls in line with The RFL’s Lions Pathway that other clubs within the RFL are running and gives a chance for ORLFC to nurture local players from local amateur clubs and hopefully instil in them the desire and passion to want to play for ORLFC, just like myself, Mike Ford, Terry Flanagan, Paddy Kirwan and many more Oldham boys all those years ago.
The good thing is that since we started this in May this year we have had more than 200 players turn up for sessions at Melrose Playing Fields and 20 local coaches have got involved in wanting to coach the teams.
It didn’t go as planned initially because we couldn’t get games for the teams. However, Mike Ford and the new board at ORLFC has backed us 100 per cent.
This has generated a buzz within the town again and when I go to local junior games people are talking about ORLFC again rather than Saints, Wigan, Leeds etc.
I HAVE EVEN SEEN SOMETHING I HAVE NOT SEEN FOR 20 YEARS OR MORE . . . local junior players now wearing ORLFC shirts at training,
The buzz and the passion I felt about ORLFC 50 years ago is back. I can hear it and see it in some of the junior players. Hopefully, with the Oldham RL RISE Programme (Lions Pathway) now up and running it won’t be too long before we see the first Oldham junior player from the RISE programme pull on that famous red & white hooped shirt of the Roughyeds.
The first part of the programme started last Saturday morning at Melrose Playing Fields. Out of 75 players signed up for the programme, 60 turned up with seven coaches from Oldham and Leeds Rhinos running the sessions.
We will be running a further five sessions covering attack, defence, team bonding, attacking and defending around the play the ball and match-day build up, all leading to a game against Leigh Leopards on Saturday, November 4, time and venue to be confirmed.
Sessions will be as follows (all 10am to 11.15am):
Saturdays, October 7, 14, 21, 28, Nov 4.
There will also be a Player Development festival on Wednesday, October 25 (10am to 11.30am at Hathershaw College) for year’s 7s, 8s & 9s. Registrations are now open.
The RISE programme is also about developing local coaches. The next meeting for ALL local coaches will be 7pm, Monday, October 16 at Heyside CC. The coaches meeting is open to ALL coaches who are involved in the game in Oldham from Minions, under 6s to open age. This is the coaches chance to have a say in what they would like as coaches on subjects such as courses. conditioning, mental heath etc. Come along and have your say.
There will be an official Launch Of the RISE Programme in December.
If anyone has any questions please contact Joe Warburton on 07882848340 or email Joe on: joewarby9@aol.com
