Record numbers of children Get Into Rugby as World Rugby celebrates #OlympicDay

Rugby has joined the global sporting family in celebrating #OlympicDay as World Rugby announces that record numbers of children are getting active and getting into rugby.

With more than 7.2 million players getting active across 120 national member unions, World Rugby’s Get Into Rugby mass participation programme attracted a record 460,000 children in 2014 and is on track to top 600,000 in 2015.

With a target of attracting and retaining one million new players to rugby by the Rio 2016 Olympic Games where rugby sevens will debut, more than 300,000 children have participated in the programme in the first five months of 2015, representing a 40 per cent increase on the same period last year.

Get Into Rugby highlights:

945 active locations across 116 nations

6,300 trained coaches and teachers delivering the programme

13,000 participants in North America between 2012-14

25,000 participants in Oceania between 2012-14

61,000 participants in South America between 2012-14

71,000 participants in Africa between 2012-14

82,000 participants in Asia between 2012-14

110,000 girls participating in 2015

190,000 boys participating in 2015

222,000 participants in Europe between 2012-14

300,000 participants introduced to rugby in first 5 months of 2015

460,000 introduced to rugby in 2014

World Rugby Chairman Bernard Lapasset said: "Sport is about bringing people together, having fun and getting active. Sport has the power to drive social change through its strong values and today we join our sporting friends from around the world in celebration of sport.

"Rugby is united through its character-building values, which are a natural fit with the ethos of Olympism and we are delighted that record numbers of children are getting active around the world as rugby in all its forms reaches out to new participants, audiences and commercial partners in record numbers every year."

More and more unions are actively collaborating with their National Olympic Committees and benefiting from Olympic Solidarity assistance to support the development of rugby, team preparation and coaching structures as the sport prepares for Rio 2016.

On Olympic Day, rugby stars from around the globe have been spreading the word on social media and expressing their excitement ahead of Rio 2016. You can join the conversation and view highlights of Rugby's #OlympicDay events at www.worldrugby.org.

World Rugby CEO @brettgosper: Get Active & Get Into Rugby on #olympicday. Join the chat & share your pics and videos @worldrugby

Brazil sevens star Edna Santini ‏@EdnaSantini: Happy Olympic Day!!! #Rugby #OlympicDay http://newsletter.worldrugby.org:81/CT00314702MTI2MzY=.HTML?D=2015-06-23

Australia sevens star Shannon Parry ‏@Shan_Parry: Just over a year until Rugby Sevens debuts at the Olympics! Get Active. Get Into Rugby. #OlympicDay http://newsletter.worldrugby.org:81/CT00314703MTI2MzY=.HTML?D=2015-06-23

Canada sevens star John Moonlight ‎@jmoonlight12: It’s Olympic Day! Get active and get into rugby on #olympicday @worldrugby7s @RugbyCanada

Even the Rio 2016 mascots have been getting into rugby: @viniciusrio2016 & @tomrio2016 celebrating #OlympicDay by encouraging kids to #GetIntoRugby http://getintorugby.worldrugby.org/

Olympic Day activation will continue on Wednesday with a special announcement regarding rugby development in Brazil.

Get active on #OlympicDay and win a trip to Rio de Janeiro: The IOC is offering a chance to win a trip for two to Rio de Janeiro in December for a sneak peek of the Olympic Park ahead of next summer’s Olympic Games. To enter, individuals simply need to get active; capture the moment with a photo or video; and then share it using #olympicday on social media.

Since 1 June, thousands of people, including Olympians, have been sharing their sporting prowess and efforts. The contest will run until 30 June, so there’s no time to waste to get active. For more info, click here: www.olympic.org/olympicdaycontest.

For more information, please contact:

DOMINIC RUMBLES

Head of Communications, World Rugby

T: +353-86-8520-826

E: dominic.rumbles@worldrugby.org

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