Start Small – Dream Big

In life people can usually be divided into two categories, the lovers of the round ball and the lovers of the oval ball! I am a round ball person myself though I expect to get drawn into the excitement of the 6 Nations Championship which has just kicked off. Both Rugby Union and Rugby League seem to have grown in their range and appeal, even to someone like me who finds the rules incomprehensible.

In Tarvin Community Centre on a Saturday morning an eager group of boys (and a few girls) gather to learn the basics of rugby with Rugby Tots. This company, a successful franchise, has been going since 2003, and provides a programme designed to use the multiple skills of rugby to create a fun and enjoyable environment while developing basic core motor skills. While playing a number of exciting games with a suitably soft oval ball, kids learn co-ordination and control, team skills, co-operation and the arts of winning and losing with grace and good humour.

If you have a little one from – well, maybe 3 or 4, with lots of energy to spare, then do consider this great class. I suspect that not many of them will go on to score the winning try at Twickenham – or even a goal in the F.A. Cup at Wembley, but they will have learnt that sport is fun and exercise a great pleasure. Hopefully this will influence them for the rest of their lives, keeping them fit and healthy. If nothing else, it will get rid of some of that surplus energy!

For more information go to www.rugbytots.co.uk. There are spaces for 5 to 7 year olds in the 10:30 to 11:15 session.

For information on all activities at the Community Centre go to www.tarvincommunitycentre.org

I lived in Fiji where rugby was akin to a national religion. I was there in 2003 when Jonny Wilkinson scored with a drop kick to win the World Cup against the Aussies . I was surrounded by Aussies and Kiwis, a great patriotic moment even for a 'round ball' fan like me! Photograph shows rugby practice Fijian style, including warm mud!