A UNIQUE partnership is to use elite sport to give young people a pathway to all manner of corporate opportunities.
Barnard Castle School has linked up with The London City Sevens to provide students with a pipeline to contacts around the world.
The initiative was formally launched with a visit to the school by London City Sevens director Dan James and players ex-Fiji international Niko Matawalu, Australia 7s captain Matt McTaggart, and former pupil and England 7s player Max Pepper, who also plays No9 for Bristol Bears.
The visitors were taken on a tour of the school before coaching boys and girls on the skills needed in Rugby Sevens.
A link was forged initially by the school’s development director Dionne Saville.
Dan said: “We play at tournaments around the world where we come into contact with schools and clubs. We want to use sport for international development and to create a pathway to corporate connections for young people at Barney. Today is the first tangible touchpoint with the school to show what 7s can achieve. Former Barney pupil Harry Rickard has also played for us”
“The school is fantastic and the people here are so passionate about sport and education which is great to see.”
Headmaster David Cresswell said: “Barnard Castle has always produced people who go on to do remarkable things, on the pitch and off it. Partnering with London City 7s lets us show the world exactly what a Barney education makes possible.”
Director of Sport Rachel Masterman welcomed the partnership. She said: “Sport at Barnard Castle is about developing the whole person – the resilience, the leadership, the ability to perform under pressure. Sevens is the perfect expression of that. London City 7s is the stage that shows the world what a Barney education produces. We are really proud to be part of this initiative which I think will be a phenomenal opportunity for young people.”
Max Pepper, who attended Barnard Castle School from the age of four, admitted that rugby had shaped his current life. “I would not be a professional rugby player today without 7s which provided me with a platform to showcase my skills,” he said.
“I played in tournaments for GB all over the world and it created so many opportunities for me. I’ve also made friends all over the world who I still keep in touch with and you meet all sorts of people you wouldn’t otherwise meet through 7s. It has given me so many different life experiences.”
His father Martin Pepper, a former professional player and currently second master at the school, added: “Sevens is a great vehicle for young people to play at the highest level and this initiative will help us strengthen links with our Old Barnardians all around the world.”
Niko and Matt both said they were impressed with the school’s facilities and the welcoming nature of staff and students.
Matt said: “The fields must be a dream for pupils, the grounds are awesome and beautiful and the students are really nice, very welcoming and confident.”
Niko added: “The students were really easy to coach as they were good listeners. The school environment is outstanding.”
Master in charge of rugby Lee Dickson said the partnership would provide huge opportunities for students. “Barnard Castle is where it started for me,” said the former No9 for Northampton Saints and England, who is now combining coaching at Newcastle Red Bulls with being a consultant for the school.
“The values, the discipline, the team. Everything I went on to do in the game came from there. And this is going to be more than just rugby offering students opportunities around the world.”
