Through an initiative run by Premiership Rugby – in collaboration with its title partner, insurance broker Gallagher, and the Rugby Football Union (RFU) – to tackle underrepresentation at grassroots level, 15-year-old North Manchester-based pupil Harry Eguakun has transformed his life. Having previously struggled with behavioural difficulties at school, Harry has flourished into a rugby-loving player for his local team – building solid friendships and embracing a new-found sense of confidence.

Project Rugby is designed to increase participation in and champion the game among young people as a truly inclusive sport, through delivery of sessions by community teams from each of Premiership Rugby’s 13 shareholder clubs, including Sale Sharks, at more than 200 locations nationwide.

Harry, a pupil at Co-op Academy Manchester in Blackley, often struggled with the demands of school and displayed challenging behaviour– which regularly landed him in trouble, detracted from his education and built barriers to creating solid friendships.

However, after joining Project Rugby after-school sessions run by Sale Sharks, Harry found his focus and was able to channel his energy into playing rugby.

Once in the safe environment of Project Rugby, where he could express his emotions and where he was actively encouraged to display controlled aggression, Harry started to develop self-control. He was given constructive opportunities to learn and understand the importance of discipline, and how this in turn increases confidence levels.

Harry’s rugby progressed to such an extent that he now plays for his local club, North Manchester RUFC, where he is thriving, and where he has developed a brand new friendship circle.

Project Rugby was launched in 2017 by Premiership Rugby and England Rugby, with Gallagher adding its backing in March 2019 during its first season as title partner.

Sale Sharks works with Project Rugby to increase participation in the game by people from traditionally underrepresented groups including young people from ethnically diverse backgrounds, lower socio-economic backgrounds and those with disabilities – and aims to transition those who take part in Project Rugby activities into regular rugby participants with a lifelong interest in the game.

Mark Irving, Community Rugby Coach at Sale Sharks, said: “Rugby was a fantastic catalyst for Harry’s self-development. His confidence has grown immeasurably.

“The longer he was on the programme the more he understood the talents he had and learnt how to channel these to become a competitive rugby player.”

Wayne Morris, Community & Corporate Social Responsibility Director at Premiership Rugby, commented: “We are delighted to have been able to support Harry on this journey. Rugby provides so many avenues for improved personal development. As Harry demonstrates it can help turn the path you head down in life.

“His experience shows just how important it was for Premiership Rugby to launch Project Rugby and we are thankful for the vital support we have received from Gallagher, the RFU and of course our clubs, like Sale Sharks, who bring it to life.

“Project Rugby succeeds because it engages and develops new audiences through rugby and stimulates a lifelong interest in the game. Harry is the perfect example of how playing rugby can improve and enrich your life.

“We’ve engaged thousands of participants through the delivery by community staff from our clubs, providing opportunities for people to participate in the game at a time and place that can be easily accessed by target audiences. We look forward to introducing many more to the sport we all love.”

James Fletcher, Gallagher’s local Managing Director in Manchester, added: “Harry’s story highlights what a brilliantly inclusive and life-changing initiative Project Rugby can be and why we are so proud to help deliver it on the ground to local communities through Sale Sharks.

“As the title partner of Premiership Rugby, we are passionate about giving something back to the grassroots game, and encouraging more young people to get involved is a vital part of that. Rugby delivers much more than access to a new sport – opening up so many personal development opportunities for young people and enabling them to hone invaluable life skills such as teamwork and discipline – and Project Rugby is helping take those benefits to an ever-growing audience of young people who might not otherwise have been able to access the game.”

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