Highlights from the East Coast Schools Mini Rugby Tournament

School Of Hard Knocks (SOHK) is incredibly proud of the growth and achievements of our secondary school students across Scotland. 

Just before the Scottish mid-term break, we were thrilled to bring together around 100 enthusiastic young pupils (and teachers!) from four schools - Newbattle High School, Dalkeith High School, Lochgelly High School, and Craigmount High School - at Lasswade RFC in Bonnyrigg for our East of Scotland Schools Mini Rugby Tournament.  

The event provided a fantastic opportunity for the boys and girls to display their rugby ability and newly acquired team-building skills while having fun with their peers. 

A full day of action featured 7-a-side offload touch games with fast-paced 4-minute halves and quick breaks as well as some group breakout games of Tug-o-war and giant Jenga to keep everyone moving. 

The atmosphere was fun, with music keeping energy levels high, thanks to delivery coach and DJ Jack Burgoyne whose playlist helped players and spectators stay warm and upbeat in the crisp Eastern chill! 

Celebrating progress 

A teacher from Broughton High School remarked on the boys’ notable improvements at the event. 

“It was great to see the boys' progress in their rugby skills since I saw them first at the start of this year. They are working much better together as a team now.” 

For many students, the event was about personal growth and development. A student from Newbattle High School said: 

“The touch rugby was so much fun. I would love to go and join the boys’ groups so I can play back-to-back matches!” 

Another student from Newbattle shared their excitement for future events: 

“I’m even more excited for the end-of-year festival at Broadwood Stadium because we are definitely a stronger team than we were last year.” 

The strength of the SEL approach

Beyond the pitch, our programmes focus on social and emotional learning (SEL), equipping young people with skills that extend far beyond sport.  

This term, students have discussed what makes them angry/ anxious and considered the degree to which these things are within our control with a focus on  coping skills / methods. These methods might be used at any time but can be related to how they may feel when something does not go their way on the pitch and how they may respond to it. It Is Incredibly powerful to see them using these newly developed skills on the rugby pitch and throughout their daily life. 

The next term we will be looking at emotional literacy, physical health, and DNA of a champion. 

Roisin Murray, Regional Manager - Scotland, said: 

“Our young players have continued to show their enthusiasm and willingness to develop their skillset on and off the rugby pitch and have shown what they can accomplish as a team. It was a particular highlight watching some of the schools come together to produce a ‘dance-off’ warm-up at the beginning of the festival to get everyone excited and ready to go.’  

Highlights from the Mini Festival 

Newbattle High School: Students demonstrated outstanding teamwork and resilience throughout the touch rugby matches, with many eager to take on more challenges. 

Outside of the School Of Hard Knocks programme, four rising stars from the Newbattle girls group recently played at a rugby festival in Dalkeith. The teacher commented: “They were tremendous and had a great time and experience from it! Amazing to see!” 

Lochgelly High School: A fantastic display of confidence and communication and support between teammates, reinforcing the importance of positive relationships. 

Craigmount High School: The team showed great strategic thinking and adaptability, making impressive progress from the start of the tournament to the final match. 

Broughton High School: Students showcased remarkable improvement in their gameplay and team dynamics, impressing both teachers and coaches. 

Looking Ahead 

The mini-festival celebrated our young participants’ hard work and dedication, and we couldn’t be prouder of everyone. As we continue through the year, we look forward to seeing even more growth in their rugby skills and personal development. 

With the end-of-year festival at Broadwood Stadium on the horizon, students will soon have another exciting opportunity to showcase their progress and celebrate their achievements together. This will take place in May.   

 
A huge shout-out to our students, coaches, and volunteers for making this event a success and a big thanks to Lasswade RC for letting us host this event at their club! 

If you’re an educator or head teacher wondering how a SOHK programme could help your pupils level up, get in touch with Torran Mcdougall, Director of Programmes: [email protected]