Leicester Tigers are pleased to welcome Lionheart Education Trust to the Tigers Family as a new Community Partner.

This partnership will see Leicester Tigers community coaches work closely with all schools in the Lionheart Trust, which includes 14 in the Leicestershire area, supporting them to develop programs to engage young people and the local community in rugby.

Tigers will provide a designated Rugby Development Officer to the trust, who will work not only with students, but also with teaching staff to help increase participation levels in rugby.

The partnership will also create opportunities at the Lionheart Education Trust sites for people in the local communities to engage in activities such as touch rugby, walking rugby and wheelchair rugby, making use of the facilities at the schools to increase the activity levels of those who live nearby.

Asked about the partnership, Tigers Community Manager, Dan Hemingway said “We are really excited to be working with the team at Lionheart Trust to create a sustainable rugby offer across their sites, introducing Leicester Tigers rugby to their students, staff and local communities.

“The Lionheart Trust facilities are excellent, and the staff are highly invested in creating the best possible experience for their students. We hope that we can provide a number of additional opportunities to support the schools and engage another generation of boys and girls and welcome them into the Tigers family.”

Lionheart Educational Trust's Subject Lead for PE, Rebecca Ardley, said "We are really excited about our partnership with Leicester Tigers, getting more young people playing and enjoying rugby.

“Pupils in both our primary and secondary schools, as well as people from the local communities, will be able to access a range of new playing and leadership opportunities, designed and led by experienced coaches.

“This partnership, with a successful club like Leicester Tigers, is a wonderful opportunity for our 14 Leicestershire schools".