YORKTON – Want to get in on the ground floor as a new sport is introduced to Yorkton?

Then if you are a youth ages five to 13 you’ll want to to be signed up for a introduction to rugby workshop planned for the morning of July 15 at Century Field. While being held in Yorkton, young players are welcome from throughout the region. You can pre-register at www.saskrugby.com

Don’t worry parents the introduction will be non-contact as participants are given a chance to handle a rugby ball, do some passing – integral to the game, and learning some basic forms.

The morning workshop in part of a ‘Rugby Day’ being held in the city by Saskatchewan Rugby as a way to start the ball rolling toward establishing teams in Yorkton explained Jordan Astrope Executive Director with the provincial organization.

So why rugby?

Andrew Shaw, Rugby Development Officer with the provincial organization said it is a sport where many of the skills for example lateral foot movement transfer to other sports from hockey to basketball, and it does provide physical activity, and of course the crossover to football is obvious too.

There is also a community aspect to rugby, offered Astrope, which revolve around core values including integrity, respect, passion and discipline.

While it is obvious that rugby might attract athletes from other sports, it is also hoped as a new venture it will bring out some youngsters yet to find their sport and willing to give rugby a try.

Astrope said looking ahead they hope there is interest from local youth, which in turn gets some parents interested as volunteers to start a non-contact rugby program, which gets players involved and learning skills which give them a firm foundation should the program one day expand to include contact teams.

“Non-contact is about safety getting started,” he said.

The day will also include four matches featuring both boys and girls U16 and U18 teams from Saskatchewan and Manitoba hooking up to demonstrate the sport.

The games will provide entertainment and also give interested players and volunteers a look at rugby live.

The Yorkton day is part of the provincial organization’s efforts to expand the sport in Saskatchewan, taking a community, by community approach.

At present there are established rugby programs of varying degrees in about 10 communities, offered Shaw.