The Rugby Football Union (RFU) in collaboration with UK Sport held a very successful 100% ME Outreach at the National u/16 10-a-side tournament in Rugby. Gavin Dovey from the RFU and Anton and Millie de Villiers from UK Sport ran the Outreach and after the outreach Dovey said: “The Outreach was fantastic and we were able to educate the young players in a fun and informal way”.

The 100% ME Zone was set-up at the Springhill playing fields and all the players had easy access to the Zone. The young players could play the WADA anti-doping laptop quiz in their teams and if successful could win 100% ME merchandise like beanies and baseball caps. They also had the opportunity to ask questions and discuss current issues like supplements in sport, how and where to check medications and the testing procedures and equipment used. The players could then pledge their support to drug-free rugby by signing a panel which featured Jonny Wilkinson, the 100% ME ambassador for rugby union.

Coaches and team managers also had the change to pick-up the new anti-doping resource that includes a DVD, advice card and anti-doping manual. Some parents also tried their hand at the WADA quiz as well as some of the referees and marshals working at the pitches.

One of the England u/18 players who attended a 100% ME talk in August 2006 also came to the Zone to enquire about hay fever medication – another sign that the education programme is getting to the targeted audience. Some of the players also commented on the very successful 100% ME Cycling team and it was very encouraging to see the willingness of the players to learn about their rights and responsibilities with regards to drug-free rugby.

In total around 400 people were reached, including 300 players. Jason Leonard, a world cup winner with the England 2003 team, also pledged his support to drug-free rugby during his visit to the Zone by signing the Jonny Wilkinson panel. He was also involved in the price giving ceremony at the end of the tournament.

It was a very successful Outreach and an event the RFU can attend on an annual basis with a 100% ME Zone. It was very clear that all the players that visited the Zone truly believe their sport should be drug-free.

Gavin Dovey summarized the Outreach by saying: “Once again Outreach has proven to be a terrific way of educating our young players and not to mention support staff. I think several coaches walked away a bit more in tune with how much the RFU needs them to be a knowledgeable and vocal voice in the fight against doping and without outreach today we would not have been able to get out that message.”