Deadly7s: The school rugby program looking for the next Kurtley Beale

The ARU has developed a national coaching program for primary schools with a high percentage of Indigenous students.

Doonside Public School in Sydney's West was where Sevens star Mahalia Murphy went before she became a big name in rugby.

Kurtley Beale grew up not far away before he became a Wallabies hero.

But rugby needs to ensure the Indigenous talent keeps flowing. 

The Deadly7s is an Australian Rugby Union's first-ever national program for primary schools with a high percentage of Indigenous students. 

The free, five-week initiative is intended to provide Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students in Year 5 or Year 6 with their first taste of the sport. 
Doonside Public School Principal shows off an Indigenous Wallabies jersey
Doonside Public School Principal David Galea shows off an Indigenous Wallabies jersey at morning assembly. Source: SBS
Players such as Murphy and Beale are few and far between at the elite level,  but the ARU is hoping that with continued support and targeting of Indigenous talent, the next stars won't be too far behind.  

Development manager at NSW Rugby Union Andrew Hill says the initiative is all about giving kids the confidence to achieve.

"Just teaching kids they can be anything they want to be," he told SBS World News.

There are around 45 schools in NSW signed up to the nationally-run Deadly7s program. 

Doonside Principal David Galea says his students love it.

He told SBS World News: "They were quite devastated when the program had finished at the end of the year". 

The scheme includes some time in the classroom to learn about the benefits of exercise and diet as well as playing rugby. 

Deadly7s is set to continue for another two years,  but the Australian Rugby Union will need further Federal funding if it is to continue beyond that. 


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By John Baldock
Source: SBS


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