School of Rugby scores a try for healthy eating at Whitburn Academy

 Edinburgh Rugby’s Second-Row, Sean Cox and Half Back Chris Leck visited Whitburn Academy on Tuesday 13 March as part of the School of Rugby programme which is supported by Quality Meat Scotland (QMS).  

The CashBack for Communities funded programme will offer a catalyst to motivate and develop some of Scotland’s young people. It also aims to create an environment where sport makes a significant contribution to the delivery of “A Curriculum for Excellence,” playing a central role in the life of the school. 

Quality Meat Scotland (QMS), which sponsors Scottish Rugby, has developed a nutritional programme in association with the School of Rugby. Jennifer Robertson, Health and Education Coordinator and qualified dietician, commented on how the workshop builds on the QMS existing health and education programme. 

She said: “As everyone plays the QMS Proteens Quiz, pupils will also have an opportunity to ask the player about his diet, the part red meat plays in his meal plans and the nutritional benefits it provides. 

“The highlight of our visit is the “wrap challenge” where the player and some of the pupils are tested to see how much they have remembered as they make healthy tortilla wraps with the range of ingredients on offer. The trick is to choose the healthy option!” 

Ian Adair, Whitburn Academy Head Teacher, said: “We are pleased to be involved with the School of Rugby initiative. It delivers a range of important messages about the importance of maintaining a healthy and active lifestyle, in a way that is both fun and educational.”

Scottish Rugby’s Head of Community Rugby, Colin Thomson said: “Scottish Rugby believe that school sport plays an important role in the education of youngsters.  

“Through the School of Rugby initiative we aim to develop youngsters into confident and competent individuals, showing the positive impact sport has on them and on the school communities they come from. “So far we have established partnerships with 18 schools in Scotland, all of varying playing levels, who have committed to establishing and developing this initiative in their school community. “We believe passionately that, by working with the education sector and the selected schools, we will demonstrate the educational benefits of rugby to young people and their communities.” 

The initiative will provide a context for learning inside and outside of the classroom, allowing all pupils to experience rugby, and improve their fitness and physical literacy. This in turn will contribute to an enhanced educational experience in each of the participating schools. 

Each School of Rugby will be supported with a package of resources, enabling more staff to deliver a thriving rugby programme across the school including a focused curricular programme for a number of S1 pupils. 

The broad rugby programme consists of rugby teams of all ages, opportunities for the development of girls’ teams and non-playing opportunities for senior pupils, in rugby coaching, refereeing, volunteering and running sport in local primary schools and rugby clubs.

Caption: Taking part in the wrap challenge at Whitburn Academy are Edinburgh Rugby's Chris Leck and Sean Cox (centre left and right). Picture courtesy of Stuart Vance, West Lothian Courier