Atlanta Youth Rugby (AYR) has announced it has been selected as a vendor for City of Atlanta after school programs, beginning in January 2017. 

On the heels of our successful similar program pilot in the Warren and Whitehead Boys & Girls Clubs, this new program will help us fulfill our mission to bring rugby to all of Atlanta’s area girls and boys.

Said Ramondo Davidson of the City of Atlanta Recreation Department, “We are looking for non-traditional after school programs that offer fun and fitness for our kids, and support the training of coaches in our schools and community centers.  AYR has shown us rugby deserves a spot in our rotation.”

AYR and Rugby Georgia President Anton Forbes-Roberts is bullish on after school programs, and intends to model similar successes in Brooklyn and Memphis that have scaled year-round youth rugby.  “We are indebted to Ramondo, City of Atlanta’s Recreation Department  Executive Director LaChandra Butler-Burks, Centers of Hope Director Tiffani Bryant and USA Rugby’s Kurt Weaver for supporting this pilot.  And of course our fantastic national champion Life University coaches will be a significant part of this equation.”

The pilot program is running in two locations twice a week in the upcoming winter term, serving over 150 kids.  Coaches are be chosen from Life University’s women’s and men’s rugby programs and will also include volunteer high-school rugby player assistant coaches earning community service credits for their studies.  The program focus is on all girls and boys from K-6th grade.