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Over 100,000 primary school children in Kenya will be introduced to Rugby through the IRB Junior World Rugby Trophy 2009 legacy and development programme, the International Rugby Board announced.

The extensive legacy programme, which coincides with the start of the key development tournament in Nairobi in April, will also feature significant investment in stadium infrastructure and pitch enhancement projects, grass roots coaching and Rugby equipment support.

“The IRB is committed to growing the Game across Africa and in 2007 the Confederation of African Rugby (CAR) IRB Regional Association signed an historic accord with the Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa (ANOCA) aimed at jointly fostering Sport and Rugby in Africa,” said IRB Chairman Bernard Lapasset.

“The IRB currently invests over US$2.2 million a year in CAR Union development programmes and Regional tournament infrastructure aimed at raising the competitiveness of the Game in Africa. A further US$1 million is being invested in the organisation of the IRB Junior World Rugby Trophy, of which US$100,000 will be dedicated to the tournament’s legacy programme.”

Over the next four years the IRB and CAR will oversee the roll out of a wide-reaching grass roots development programme aimed at introducing 100,000 primary school children to the Sport by 2012. The project, run in conjunction with the Kenyan Government, is the largest of its kind in the country.

“The schools programme will be complimented with a dedicated project aimed at improving host venue facilities, including pitch improvement and maintenance for the two venues where the Trophy matches will be played (the Rugby Football Union of East Africa and Impala stadiums), meaning that the tournament’s legacy will stretch beyond the final round of matches,” said IRB Tournaments Manager Philippe Bourdarias.

“Scrum machines, post protectors and ancillary kit will also be distributed as part of the tournament legacy programme, while improvements will also be made to Rugby facilities, including changing rooms. It is a very exciting development.”

Kenya Rugby Football Union Chairman Richard Omwela added: “Kenya Rugby is looking forward to these initiatives with great relish. The IRB Junior World Rugby Trophy will aid a key strategic aim of ours – turning Rugby into a truly community Sport. It’s no secret that the primary school network is the closest of all to the communities in Kenya. This is a logical first step of taking Rugby to the Kenyan communities.”

“The primary schools project together with the infrastructural initiatives will be a fitting legacy of the Junior World Rugby Trophy tournament and their success will critical to the development of the Game in Kenya and Africa as a whole.”

The IRB Junior World Rugby Trophy 2009 featuring Cayman Islands, Chile, Kenya, Korea, Namibia, Papua New Guinea, Romania and USA will kick off on April 21 with subsequent match days on April 25, April 29 and the positional play-offs and Final on May 3.

(Source: IRB)