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New inner-city rugby scheme for London
A new rugby programme aimed at inner-city communities where young people are felt to be at risk from anti-social behaviour has launched in London.
The Hitz project will run across six London boroughs - Hackney; Islington; Hounslow; Croydon; Ealing and Southwark - and will help to build self-confidence by introducing young people to tag, touch and contact rugby. Premier Rugby, the Rugby Football Union, the Metropolitan Police, children's rugby charity Wooden Spoon and the Active Communities Network are jointly funding the programme.
It is hoped that providing opportunities to play rugby will prevent young people in areas considered to be at risk from drifting into crime and anti-social behaviour. Former England player and Wooden Spoon ambassador Richard Hill said: "Rugby is an inclusive game, and what this project shows is that it's the core values of rugby, such as respect, teamwork and sportsmanship can make a difference, not only to develop the rugby skills of participants, but also be part of helping them fulfil their potential as individuals."
Deputy commissioner Tim Godwin of the Metropolitan Police added: "Hitz is about taking those positive skills to young people in our city to give them the opportunity to benefit from the sport rather than hanging around wondering what to do next."