Northampton Saints Community has received a fantastic response to its Schools’ Rugby World Cup Awareness week, ahead of the competition coming to the town next year.
cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens is proudly hosting SIX pool stage fixtures in August and September 2025, including the Red Roses’ showdown with Samoa.
The project aims to shine the light on inspirational female athletes through a fun and engaging schools project that challenges students to research the players and their backgrounds – across multiple nationalities – who will compete on the international stage and on their local turf for one of rugby’s most prestigious trophies next summer.
All these athletes will also be players within Northampton Saints’ partnered women’s team, Loughborough Lightning, and the project will include the opportunity to watch and meet whichever players they’ve researched at a Loughborough Lightning matchday this December.
The awareness week will take place Monday 2 to Sunday 8 December 2024, with a second instalment to follow in January of 2025, and includes the following:
Research project:
- Research a Loughborough Lighting international player, their country/culture, and their history in Women’s rugby.
- Present the research to other members of the class and bring some facts about Loughborough Lightning’s international players to the primary schools’ festival.
- Make signs for the Loughborough Lightning player they have researched to bring to the matchday to cheer that player on.
- Please note digital resources will be provided to enable students to know and find out more about Loughborough Lightning’s international players.
Primary schools’ festival:
- Each school will take part in a tag rugby festival on Wednesday 4 December at cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens.
The Matchday:
- Each school will receive up to 30 funded tickets for participating (via the RFU’s Community Fund) to attend when Loughborough Lightning host reigning PWR champions, Gloucester-Hartpury, on Sunday 8 December at cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens.
- This is an opportunity for each school to cheer on players they’ve researched and show their support for their local elite women’s rugby team.
- Each school will also be involved in on-pitch activities during the matchday, and have the chance to meet the players.
- This is when the schools’ research project can be brought to life by bringing along signs that the students have prepared.
Extras:
- Each student will also receive a Northampton Saints/Loughborough Lightning t-shirt.
- Each student will be given a rugby ball to take home with them.
- Each school will receive a Loughborough Lightning jersey signed by members of the squad.
To register your school’s interest in taking part in Rugby World Cup Awareness week, please email [email protected].
Next Home Match
