Insurance broker and risk management company Gallagher is proud to announce the launch of its Touchline Academy, an accessible rugby teaching programme designed to upskill 2,000 teachers by 2028 to shape the next generation of rugby players.
Created in partnership with Premiership Rugby clubs, the Gallagher Touchline Academy aims to provide teachers across the UK with the training and resourcesthey need to teach rugby so that more children from state schools can access the game. No prior knowledge of the sport is required, and any teacher who is passionate about making a positive impact on youth sports will be able to access this simple and easy-to-digest programme.
In recent years, there has been a decline in the number of children from state schools being taught rugby, with only 8% of children aged 5-16 playing the game in the 2023/24 school year. The Gallagher Touchline Academy has been created with the ambition of increasing the number of rugby coaches in UK’s schools so that young people from all backgrounds can easily access the sport.
Having been the title partner of Premiership Rugby since 2018, Gallagher has a long-standing commitment to growing the game by making it more inclusive and accessible. Over the last eight years, Gallagher has been delivering Project Rugby in partnership with Premiership Rugby and the RFU. The programme provides access to rugby amongst underrepresented groups, including women and girls, people with disabilities, and those from ethnically diverse or lower-social economic backgrounds.Since inception, Project Rugby has successfully introduced over 100,000 youngpeople to rugby, with many going on to playing regularly and joining a local club.
Gallagher has continued to support the game at grassroots level by helping to grow the game and introduce rugby to new audiences. The Gallagher Touchline Academy is a continuation of the insurance broker’s existing commitment to providing young people with new opportunities and is an acknowledgement of the positive impact that teachers can have on the lives of young people.
Those interested in signing up to take part in Gallagher Touchline Academy can sign up here: https://gallaghertouchlineacademy.sponsorworks.co.uk/S?e=39783&h=YJ6Z0Q&utm_source=pressrelease&utm_medium=referral.
The process then involves three simple stages:
To mark the launch of the Gallagher Touchline Academy, the insurance broker has captured an inspiring photo series that showcases the relationship between some of the biggest names in the game and the teachers who nurtured their passion for the game. Featuring Gallagher Premiership Rugby stars such as Marcus Smith, Ellis Genge and Tom Curry, the emotive photos are an intimate reflection of how significant the influence of a teacher can be on the future of a young person.
Bristol Bears and England prop, Ellis Genge, said: “I know first-hand how important a teacher can be in steering you onto the right path when you are young and impressionable. I could so easily have fallen astray if it wasn’t for the guidance and education that I received from my rugby teachers during my teenage years. Rugby gave me a sense of purpose and I am so grateful for the opportunities it has given me. That is why I’m proud to support the Gallagher Touchline Academy.”
This year is especially significant for rugby, with the 2025 Women’s Rugby World Cup set to provide a golden opportunity to inspire a new generation of female players when it takes place in England in August and September.
Former Lioness and Euro 2022 winner, Jill Scott, added: “Having lived throughthe boom in popularity of women’s football in this country in recent years, I firmly believe that this campaign is a fantastic way to generate a similar growth in rugby. Teachers are essential to ensuring young people have the support and guidance they need to thrive in the world of sport. This is particularly true within women’s sport, where it is vital that we have able and committed teachers if we want the game to grow and flourish.”
Nick Harris, CEO of Gallagher’s broking business, which supports companies across the UK and Ireland, said: “We’re incredibly proud to be launching the Gallagher Touchline Academy as a continuation of our long-term commitment to rugby. By delivering the programme directly to teachers, our ambition is to create a new wave of coaches who will develop the next generation of rugby players. It’s a hugely exciting initiative that will benefit young people from many differentbackgrounds and provide them with the opportunity to get involved in the sport.
“Our partnership with Premiership Rugby has seen us supporting rugby at grassroots level since 2018. Through initiatives like Project Rugby, we’ve already helpedthousands of young people to get involved in the game. The Gallagher Touchline Academy is our way of going even further to create more accessibility and diversity in the game.”
There are no eligibility criteria or tests to pass – simply apply to become part of this exciting new initiative and inspire the next generation of rugby players.
To learn more and sign up, visit: https://gallaghertouchlineacademy.sponsorworks.co.uk/S?e=39783&h=YJ6Z0Q&utm_source=pressrelease&utm_medium=referral
