Doncaster Rovers Education Foundation learners were given the unique opportunity to try their hand at touch rugby, a fast growing sport which helps participants understand the fundamentals of rugby league without the heavy contact and ensures every player can participate. It is a great way for all to keep fit and enjoy and thrive in a team environment.

With the help of the Dons' community team and ex-Super League star Paul Cooke, the NVQ and Foundation Learning groups were put through their paces over eight weeks, covering fundamental skills such as kicking, catching, movement and positioning.

The link has given our potential coaches an extra dimension to their sporting portfolio and has helped raise the awareness of our local rugby league club.

Dons' community development coach Martin Rowlands said: "This was the first time any of the students have played any form of rugby and it was good to see them develop over the 8 weeks of training that we delivered.

"The students enjoyed a change of sport as it gave them something different to look forward and it was a very enjoyable eight weeks training programme."

Student Lewis Downing said: "Touch rugby has been brilliant, the Dons staff have made the sessions fun but competitive and it has really brought some of the other lads out of their shells.

"After the course I am hoping to organise a touch rugby team to take to tournaments in the summer."

Can I ask if this is all part of the scheme that Gavin Baldwin is trying to introduce ie Sporting Doncaster ?

It's got nothing to do with Gavin Baldwin at all. Part of our targets from the RFL is to increase participation of people aged 16+ playing some form of Rugby League. We have been speaking to the community team at the Rovers for a while, we came up with the idea to run a 8 week block of Touch Rugby with their students, it helped hit one of our targets and also helped them as they were looking for their students to take part in another sport as part of their course.

Thank you for the reply.