Kicking bullying into touch!
ChildLine and Premier Rugby are kicking bullying into touch! We will be running an anti-bullying programme with the 12 Premiership rugby clubs and Leeds Carnegie at 780 schools around the UK over the next two years.
Rugby is a game that relies on all members of the team to support each other. From the stocky Props to the smaller, faster Scrum Halves, the team is made up of all shapes and sizes and everyone has a key role to play. Members of the team are valued because of their differences, and in the same way no one should be bullied because they are different.
Newcastle Falcons player Jonny Wilkinson said: "Kids can be singled out and given a hard time for all sorts of reasons. Being part of a team is a fantastic experience. In the best teams the players realise that although they may all possess very different qualities, they must bring together those strengths and work hard for one another to ensure that everyone succeeds.
"No one should put up with being bullied but you have to deal with it safely. The Premier Rugby/Childline partnership will teach children in schools throughout the UK how to do this and I'm really looking forward to being part of this programme to help kick bullying into touch."
Keep a look out for more news, including videos and interviews with the rugby players who are supporting the programme.
To find out more about Premier Rugby, visit the Premier Rugby website
Image of Johnny Wilkinson from Getty images. The oval trim on the rugby ball image is a registered trademark of Gilbert Rugby. Images by istockphoto.com