IN LEAGUE TOGETHER newsletter ISSUE 14 | AUG 2011 Rugby League Loud & Proud Back To Rugby Scheme in Newcastle and Sheffield Continues To Flourish The hugely successful ‘Back To Rugby’ scheme run by the Huddersfield Giants In the Community is still going strong, with sessions every Friday The Zone. The programme offers a social opportunity for players of any ability and age to take part in rugby related skills, fitness and touch rugby. The scheme is run by ex-Giants Darren ‘Rocky’ Turner who said ”The rugby skills sessions are a great way to get fit and whilst keeping all the emphasis on having fun. It’s great to be North East RFL staff and Gateshead Thunder players were at able to sit down after the sessions and enjoy a hot drink with this year’s Northern Pride festival in Newcastle and Rugby staff all the participants to build on the social aspect of the game.” attended Sheffield Pride in July. Both areas delivered Touch Rugby and rugby skills as well as providing information and If this might interest you, please contact Darren ‘Rocky’ resources about Rugby League at the Pride events. Fortunately Turner on [email protected]. Players are free rain did not dampen the spirits of staff or visitors to both the Pride events and those that gave rugby league a try had a to turn up without booking for an 11am start on Fridays great time, all our LGBT resources were also well received at The Zone, St Andrews Road in Huddersfield (near and appreciated. Thunder First Team Coach Kevin Neighbour Galpharm Stadium) said: “It was a great day and a really big opportunity for us to showcase Gateshead Thunder and Rugby League in the North East.” RFL North East Regional Manager, Jo Drapier stated: “We were very pleased to be involved in this year’s Northern Pride festival, and to show the LGBT community that Rugby League is a welcoming sport. Sarah Bennison Makes Rugby League History The Bradford born Match Official Sarah Bennison recently made history as the first female to referee a full men’s International fixture. She refereed the Norway vs. Germany game in the Rugby League European Federation Shield in Lillestrom, with Norway taking the victory 32-28. The recent LMU graduate said: “I’ve become the first female to referee a first team game and it was a big step and it’s a big achievement. I must admit all the players and all the coaches were very supportive and they all praised me after the game so that was good and a nice feeling to have. I was thrown in the deep end a bit but I’ve been told it was a good performance.” Despite being a Rugby League referee for five years and growing up watching the sport, Sarah has never actually played the game, preferring to get involved by refereeing. P1 newsletter ISSUE 14 | AUG 2011 Sportlight on: Saqib Murtza Fasting in Ramadan stated Playing Rugby League in Ramadan 1st August My interest in Rugby League began (Information provided on Sporting Equals website - when I played in an inter-school www.sportingequals.org.uk ) tournament for Priesthorpe at the Age of 13. I didn’t know the game that well and was even unsure of Ramadan is the 9th month of the Islamic calendar when the rules however my P.E teacher Muslims observe 29 - 30 days of fasting and try to better persuaded me as there were not themselves in the principles of their faith. Islamic months enough players. I had already played follow the lunar calendar. Islamic events fall roughly on Football for Leeds City Boys, Basket the same time in the Islamic calendar but differ in the Ball for Leeds Tigers and Kick Boxed mainstream solar calendar which moves around 11-12 days as a hobby but I knew from the first game that Rugby League forward each year was the sport for me. From then I was asked to join Bradford Schools and they directed me to Dudley Hill ARLFC where I Fasting over Ramadan means abstaining from food and learnt my trade amongst a very successful team. I continued drink from sunrise to sunset. Fasting is a form of discipline to play for Bradford Bulls up until the Under 18’s Academy and for the body and the mind and enables individuals to then switched to the Salford City Reds enjoying 3 seasons in the concentrate on prayer and worship as well as recognising Under 21’s. Since then I have had spells at Professional clubs how poverty and starvation is a burden many people including Batley Bulldogs, Sheffield Eagles and Oldham and experience every day of their lives. The end of Ramadan is have now settled in to Rugby League in the capital coming to marked with the festival `Eid’ where families come together end of my first season under Joe Mbu at the London Skolars. to receive guests, exchange gifts and visit family. The last four games of the season have fallen in the month of If you have a Muslim member of staff, coach, player or Ramadan, a month where Muslims fast for 30 days not eating volunteer these are some simple steps you can take to or drinking from sunrise to sunset. This means that my normal support them: daily routine changes. This year the typical fast is from around 3:30am-9:00pm. • Individuals can train and play sport during Ramadan but 2:45am: wake up and eat breakfast consisting of porridge, caution is required for high energy activities scrambled eggs, toast and fluid I then pray and sleep • Flexibility to allow individuals to take breaks to help 7:30am: get up for work. Finishing work at 5.00pm when I get maintain energy levels home I try to get a couple hours of sleep • Parents should be consulted when children are fasting to 7.00pm: wake up to pray and open my fast with my family. ensure they are comfortable with their children taking part Being in season I still have to watch my diet and make sure that in sport good food is going in to my body to keep me fit for playing. • Timetable activities around prayer times as most 10.30pm: attend the mosque until end of midnight for prayers individuals will increase prayer times during Ramadan, In between I train at home doing shorter session than normal where possible provide a prayer room consisting of weights and cardio. • Provide a quiet room for individuals where they can rest I travel to London from Manchester for training twice a week and and avoid having to watch others eat this means I open my fast at training and eat on the train on the • Avoid arranging meetings with food over lunch times way home. My team mates and even coaches have asked me over the years • Where activities are held late in the day (around sunset) how do you do it, the answer is I don’t know because I eat so ensure water and food is available for breaking fast much normally! Since the age of 13 my family have supported • Arrange a visit to the local mosque for staff and club me and encouraged me to take part in the month of Ramadan members to find out more about Ramadan. Many and play the sport I love. Ramadan is a time to get on with your mosques have days over Ramadan where members of life as normal as you can and is a month to show patience and the wider community are invited for a tour, a brief talk and discipline and to appreciate the things in life we take for granted. then to join them to break fast. I seem to find an extra side to me physically and mentally that I forget I have and I feel even more determined at training and on game day to perform and have never found it to affect my performances on the pitch. At the end of the Holy month I feel re-born and my body feels detoxified and I always come back in the gym stronger, better and more determined which greatly benefits me as a sportsman. P2 newsletter ISSUE 14 | AUG 2011 Free Training - Me2 Making Round 27 - RFL support Activities Deaf Friendly State of Mind programme The RFL is supporting a groundbreaking campaign to raise awareness of mental health issues and have designated Round 27 of the 2011 Engage Super League season as the State of Mind Round. State of Mind is a partnership between the State of Mind programme board, Engage Super League clubs, the NHS and charitable organisations and aims to raise awareness of mental health issues within Rugby League.The RFL’s Operations Director Emma Rosewarne said: “The welfare of players at all levels of the sport is one of the RFL’s highest priorities and we are pleased to support the State of Mind programme. The need for Rugby League to tackle mental health issues was focused by the tragic death of Terry Newton, a very popular figure within the sport who in the months prior to his death in Do you want to find out how to make Rugby League at your September 2010 encountered many personal problems. club more deaf friendly? Gateshead Thunder recently became The key benefits expected from this programme include: the first Rugby League club to sign up to the Me2 and would be happy to share their experiences. If your club signs up to the • Raised awareness of and ability to deal with mental health pledge to work to make your club more deaf friendly you can problems through education, awareness and training.