This is what you have all been waiting for! Enjoy
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Rugby at Hannestad primary school
Jostein Ryan has introduced the Australian national
at Hannestad primary school.
Rugby during recess
Norwegian children don't get enough excercise. But this does not count for the pupils at Hannestad primary school in Sarpsborg.
The kids play rugby there in almost every recess. The man behind the whole concept is one of the teachers at the school, Jostein Ryan (24), who grew up in Australia and is a rugby enthusiast.
The november rain is pouring down. The school playground is empty, but inside the gymnasium, there are lots of children. Pupils from years 4-6 are there. Jostein picks
the teams.
The number of players on each team varies a little, but there are often 4-5 players on each team, says Jostein.
Rugby is a tough sport with hard tackles?
Yes, that is correct. In rugby league in Australia, the aim for the defending team is to prevent the opponents from scoring by tackling them. But you can't tackle over shoulder height. Since the kids aren't that old, we don't tackle at all. Therefore, a variation of rugby league has been introduced in Australia, called Oztag. This variation is extremely popular amongst children
and adolescents. Instead of tackling, the kids have a velcro belt with two straps attached. When the defending team stops the attacking team, they rip off one or both straps. It is not dangerous at all. Oztag was introduced in Australia in 1992 and is played Australia wide and at Hannestad primary school.
There are mostly girls who participate here, says Jostein. It is strange, but most of the players are girls. Maybe it has to do with the social aspect, since everyone can play and the girls usually come on the same team as their friends.
Pernille Simensen (9) is the referee. She likes the game and knows the rules.
The games don't last long, because of the short recess period. In the first match, Martine Jacobsen (9) almost scores, but the game ends in a thrilling draw. In the next game, Elisabeth Korpiselka (11) scores a try. This was the only try scored in the game. The game is over and the ball gets to rest until the next recess.
Jostein moved to Australia when he was seven and lived there until he was sixteen. My dad is from Australia, but my mum is from Norway. Today, I live in Sarpsborg,
he says.
Jostein tells that it didn't take long before he became interested in the sport. There is only one sport which is more popular in Australia, and that is Australian Rules Football. Both sports are tough sports. Aussie rules is a mixture of rugby and soccer.
Jostein lived in a town called Gold Coast in Queensland. I followed Rugby League with immense passion, and as a 13 year old, I played for the local team.
The Hannestad primary school teacher can talk for hours about the sport.
I keep myself updated about the sport in Australia, and talks about the sport's everyday life in the country. In Australia, there are two variations, rugby league and rugby union. The differences in the rules are small, but both games are professional.
Jostein tells that he follows the NRL. I buy game dvds from the league. In addition, I visit Australia on a regular basis, so I try to watch as many games as possible. Sometimes, I miss Australia.
I presented the game shortly after I started teaching here, says Jostein. The first time was in february, and the kids first played the game in april. It was then I had acquired balls and the belts and straps. But the interest didn't become great until september. Since september, I have arranged tournaments every month. The next one will be held on the 1st december. I am a P.E. teacher in the 4th grade, and that's how¨ the 4th graders (who make up the majority of the players) got an interest for the game.
Rugby League is very exciting and fun, he says and talks about the rules and the NRL. A rugby league game consists of two halves of 40 minutes each. There are 13 players on each team and the field is 100 x 68 m.
What do the other teachers say about the game? I think they think it is ok. The pupils get physical training, which is very important.
Do you follow other sports? I sometimes watch ice hockey and soccer, but none of them compare to rugby league. Jostein gathers some notes about rugby, which he gives to me. Then, he goes back to the classroom. The man of rugby is right here in Sarpsborg.
The principal, Hilde Litlebø at Hannestad primary school speaks highly of Jostein and what he is doing for the kids.
The first time I came down to the gymnasium to watch the kids play, I expected the big boys from the 7th grade to be there. But they weren't, none of the year 7 kids were there. Instead, I saw both boys and girls from different age groups play. Both big and small. The kids not only get physical training, but all the kids get to know each other better, and that is important in relation to them respecting each other. Jostein is a real rugby enthusiast, and we at the school are very pleased about that. We want the kids to move around.
Well, stop teaching subjects anyway
