Future Louth rugby stars take centre stage at the Aviva
Irish rugby legends Paul O’Connell, Linda Djougang and Beibhinn Parsons among those in attendance
ALDI says it was thrilled to welcome students from St Brigid's & St. Patrick’s National School, Co Louth to take part in the annual ALDI Play Rugby National Festival at Aviva Stadium on Wednesday 30 April.
Over 300 boys and girls from 17 primary schools around Ireland came together in the home of Irish Rugby and followed in the footsteps of their rugby heroes by taking part in the blitz.
Irish rugby stars and ALDI Play Rugby ambassadors, Paul O’Connell, Linda Djougang and Beibhinn Parsons were among the legends on hand to inspire, challenge and cheer on the students as they took to the hallowed turf and stepped into the boots of their rugby heroes.
ALDI Play Rugby is a non-contact primary schools rugby programme, developed by the Irish Rugby Football Union and supported by ALDI. It offers primary school students a safe and fun introduction to rugby and aims to encourage children to get active, participate in regular exercise and eat healthily. Schools are provided with access to invaluable resources including sessions with Community Rugby Officers, online coaching and equipment.
The programme has been a huge success with hundreds of schools across Ireland taking part. As Official Fresh Food Partner to the IRFU until 2028, ALDI says it will continue to offer meaningful investment and support to ALDI Play Rugby, ensuring that children all over Ireland are given the opportunity to get involved in rugby and encouraged to embrace healthy habits.
Speaking about the festival, Paul O’Connell, ALDI Play Rugby Ambassador and former Ireland captain, commented: “The ALDI Play Rugby Festival is always a wonderful event, and this year was no different.
"It was a joy to share the pitch with the future stars of tomorrow and experience their energy and enthusiasm for the sport. Programmes like ALDI Play Rugby are vital in building the future of Irish rugby and it’s fantastic to see ALDI continuing to invest in the sport at grassroots level. Bring on next year!”
For more information on ALDI Play Rugby and how your school can get involved, please visit: https://www.aldi.ie/irish-rugby-partnership