The Wigan Warriors Community Foundation have continued to develop their partnership with the Coventry Bears Rugby League Club by spending a day's coaching in Coventry last week.
The partnership between the two clubs was forged in February this year following an RFL initiative to link Super League Clubs with amateur clubs in the Midlands, and has been cemented over recent months with both clubs visiting their respective counterparts.
In June, The Bears' U14's team participated in the Wigan Festival of Rugby and watched the Warriors defeat the Castleford Tigers 38 - 22 at the DW Stadium later that day.
The Warriors visit to Coventry saw the Foundation coaching team visit both Bishop Ullathorne High School and Coundon Court High School for some specialised coaching with the school's Rugby League teams. Warriors Development Officer Amanda Wilkinson said: ‘The standard of the players here today has been excellent, and their attitude has been even better.'
The coaches then made a visit to the home of the Coventry Bears to spend an hour coaching the club's U14's and U16's teams. The intense session concentrated on the players' defensive play, and used some of the practices and drills employed by Michael Maguire and Shaun Wane when coaching the Warriors first team.
The RFL's Midlands Development Officer Alan Robinson, who also coaches at the Coventry Bears was delighted to welcome the Warriors team to Coventry: ‘It's been a great opportunity for the players both here at the club and in the schools to work with the Warriors coaches today, and it's clear to see that they have learned a lot that will help them to develop their game. This partnership is going from strength to strength and we are delighted to work with a club of Wigan's calibre.'
Despite the distance between the two clubs, both parties are determined to make the most of the partnership and provide the youngsters in Coventry with excellent opportunities: ‘The players in Coventry are relatively new to the game and we will offer our support and experience to get more people playing Rugby League' said Warriors Development Manager Mike Watson.
Watson continued: ‘We'd like to thank both of the schools and the club for their hospitality today, and especially the hard work Alan Robinson has put in prior to us arriving.'