Westcombe Park, whose First XV play in National League Division Three, added credence to their growing reputation recently by holding the first of their joint summer Coaching Schools at their Goddington Dene ground in conjunction with NEC Harlequins.<br /> <br />A raft of experienced coaching staff took part in the Coaching Schools, including Quins Community Development Officer Nick Hyde as well as coaches James Skeens, Tony Paul and Tom Williams. The Quins team took with them the Parker Pen Challenge Cup to show the children and parents.<br /> <br />"The purpose of these workshops is to not only improve the rugby playing ability of the children but to bring the premiership closer to the community," said Nick Hyde. "The strong partnership that NEC Harlequins has developed with Westcombe Park has enabled us to promote rugby within the area very well."
"Westcombe Park have an outstanding infrastructure and the workshops have proved to be very successful with in excess of 200 children attending the Easter and Summer Schools. We will continue to run similar schemes with Westcombe Park in the future".
Head of Junior Rugby at Westcombe Park Huw Howell was quick to see the huge benefits of the workshops: "The children get an enormous amount of value from these workshops. Their skills improve dramatically and rugby ultimately receives the benefits as the children progress through the age groups. You never know, hopefully we may help to produce the next Will Greenwood or Jason Leonard".
Westcombe Park are fast becoming one of the premier Kent clubs at Junior rugby level with at least two teams at every age group from Under 6 to Under 12. Their strategic alliance with Quins has only served to underline the ambition of the club.
For Westcombe Park Juniors, the season kicks-off on Sunday 5th September 2004, the day after Quins begin their Zurich Premiership campaign against London Irish at Twickenham in the London Double Header.
For more information on Westcombe Park, please contact
Huw Howell on
01689 860266 or by email at
huwhowell@westcombeparkrugby.co.uk.
