Wasps' Playing Advantage celebrated for developing Coventry's youngsters - The Coventry Observer

Wasps' Playing Advantage celebrated for developing Coventry's youngsters

Coventry Editorial 14th Jan, 2019   0

WASPS Rugby Club have been praised for their community programme in changing the life of a Coventry boy, as the scheme celebrates two years of existence.

Jensen Hobley, an 11-year old, has autism and learning difficulties and has become a regular participant in Wasps’ Playing Advantage sessions – which are targeted at providing young people between the ages of six and 16 who have various learning disabilities with the opportunity to take part in different sporting activities that they otherwise would not be afforded.

The programme was founded on Sunday 20th January, incidentally the same day when Wasps clash with the reigning European champions Leinster Rugby at the Ricoh Arena (3:15pm), with a giant cardboard cake from DS Smith – a funder of the initiative, to be presented to participants who have benefited from the scheme.

Emma Hammond, Jensen’s mother, has been highly supportive of the programme provided by Wasps, and has revealed her son has developed enormously since attending the sessions.




“Jensen has gone from feeling isolated and shy to a confident and sociable young man,” she said.

“Before he joined Playing Advantage there wasn’t really an environment where he could have fun with other children that had conditions similar to his – he now feels right at home, gets stuck in to the activities, and doesn’t feel the need to have me by his side all of the time.”


Hammond spoke of her son finding a passion for rugby and becoming a Wasps regular as a result of the programme, and has only missed a couple of sessions over the course of two years, being one of 35 young people who attend on a weekly basis.

“Before Playing Advantage it was difficult to get him settled for any period of time because of his anxious nature, but when a match is on he is totally transfixed on the action.

“Playing Advantage is one of the best things to happen to Jensen – it has really helped to bring him out of his shell and live life to the full” admitted Hammond.

Through attending Playing Advantage, the 11-year old has played similar sides in Oxford and at Saracens Rugby Club, whilst also playing for Broadstreet RFC’s Mixed Ability side.

Community Development Officer at Wasps Jordan Young was influential in founding the programme, and has been reflected fondly on the two-years that have passed since then.

“Seeing Jensen’s progression since we began shows us exactly why we put on these sessions.

“We initially set up the programme two years ago because we felt there wasn’t any sporting environment that enabled young people with learning difficulties to make new friends, develop their social skills and build resilience.

“We’ve now got to a stage where we are now making a difference to more than 40 young people’s lives week in, week out.

Young is now looking ahead to developing the scheme further, with an international festival in Belfast this summer set to feature a Wasps Disability Tag Rugby team for the first-time ever.

Playing Advantage sessions take place every Sunday morning between 9 and 10:30am, held at King Henry VIII School Sports Centre, with interested participants urged to email [email protected] for more information.

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