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Angus sports charity helping Niamh realise dreams on and off the pitch

An Angus sports charity set up to develop people through rugby is enjoying more success by helping a 16-year-old Edzell girl realise her dreams on and off the pitch.

Niamh Pert was one of the founding members of the Stracathro Estates-sponsored Rugby Academy launched by The Strathmore Rugby Club Community Trust in 2017 and is well on the way to achieving her career and sporting dreams with the help of the trust.

The academy runs free sessions for S1-S6 pupils from the Forfar, Kirriemuir and Brechin areas 2-4pm on Friday afternoons during termtime with the objective of developing them as individuals as well as players. To that end they receive coaching in life skills such as nutrition, cooking, communication, first aid and yoga as well as playing and refereeing rugby union and league.

Niamh got involved through a friend and has gone on to play for Caledonia Midlands, a selected training group for girls’ rugby development which is part of the pathway to the Scotland Squad. She’s also developed her role with the trust – becoming one of its Community Project Assistants, who help run its groundbreaking autism-friendly rugby sessions for primary children launched last year and coaching some of the rugby sessions.

The development she’s gained has given Niamh the confidence and some of the experience required to target a career as a physiotherapist. She’s now studying for the necessary Highers at Brechin High School and applying to university physiotherapy courses.

Speaking about her dream and how the trust has helped, Niamh said: “The Stracathro Estates Academy has helped me develop my skills both on and off the pitch and build my confidence.

“Doing a job that combines my love of science with my love of sport seemed like a good combination. The trust has allowed me to gain qualifications and experiences to help my course application stand out, including work experience with Angus Physiotherapy.

“It’s also given me loads of opportunities I wouldn’t have had, including qualifications such as my UKCC Level 1 coaching in rugby, first aid and refereeing and work experience. I’ve learned and improved loads of other skills which will help me throughout life, such as good communication.

“I’m very grateful for the opportunities I wouldn’t have otherwise had and I hope other young people like me use the trust to gain these and other opportunities.

“On the field, the trust experience has encouraged me to join several rugby teams – Strathmore Sharks, Tayside and Fife Girls Rugby Squad and Dundee Rugby in addition to Brechin Pirates, where I started. My favourite thing about Rugby Academy is that I get to train alongside the boys and be challenged in ways I don’t get at my regular training.

“I’m now using my rugby connections to try to go to New Zealand to work and play rugby for six months between school and university. Thanks to the connections I’ve made through the trust, this dream is looking like it could be possible

“I’ve also made friends from different schools I never would have met if it wasn’t for the academy.”

Trust Chair, Stuart Gray, said: “Niamh took to rugby very easily with coaches commenting on her natural pace. Her sidestep has also dumbfounded even the most experienced coach during the touch rugby games!

“Niamh started volunteering with the autism-friendly rugby last summer and was confident and empathetic from the start. She is a brilliant example of what we hope to achieve with the Stracathro Estates Rugby Academy and we look forward to supporting her further.”