A COURSE using rugby to tackle teenage unemployment has achieved impressive results.

All but one of 22 youngsters who took part in the pilot course have moved on to further education, sports apprenticeships and training or are looking for work.

The young people took part in the In-Touch course at the Sixways home of the Worcester Warriors rugby club after the club teamed up with employment experts Pertemps People Development Group and rugby charity Wooden Spoon.

Through the course, unemployed young people from Worcester and Birmingham were encouraged to look for a new sense of direction for their lives.

Coaching courses centred on personal development, and the group took skills sessions which gave an insight into the life of a professional rugby player.

Youngsters learnt about nutrition, diet and exercise and focused on life skills, building self-esteem, confidence and leadership qualities.

During the project, 14 of the youngsters gained an RFU tag-rugby qualification, 13 achieved a Level 2 Sports Leadership award, 12 were given a teamwork skills qualification and 11 achieved British Red Cross First Aid certificates. Dan Baldwin, of Pertemps Coachright, said: “The programme engaged with 22 young people who had no focus and little direction in life.

“Re-engagement through sport has reignited a thirst for learning and motivated the majority to re-enter education or progress on to positive new chapters in their lives with support from Connexions and the E2E programme.”

“It was a tremendous success, with many of the key outcomes being met and most of the candidates achieving all of the qualifications on offer,” he added.