Sunday 31 August 2014

Rugby star to help tackle school bullying



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EX-WALES rugby captain Gareth Thomas is leading a new campaign to help beat playground bullies.


The Grand Slam winner will visit schools across the country to talk to pupils as part of the “Balls to Bullying” initiative.


The campaign coincides with the start of the new academic year, when many youngsters face the daunting move from primary to secondary school.


Sarn-born Thomas, who came out as gay while still playing professional rugby, said tackling bullying was something close to his heart.



He said: “I think the time when kids move up to big school is a really serious fault line in the system.


“You’re in a new environment. You don’t walk as confident, you don’t talk as confident. You’re vulnerable.


“People might not believe it to look at me — because I’m a big lad — but bullying has a lot to do with my life story, who I am and where I come from.


“I’m taking the Balls to Bullying campaign into schools because I hope my reputation as a sportsman in a tough game is a way of connecting with children who may be vulnerable to bullies.”


He added: “My experience shows that being bullied has nothing to do with being weak.”


A survey by recruitment firm Prospero Teaching this week found that 73 per cent of teachers had had no specific training on bullying among children transferring from primary to secondary school.



Article source: http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/international/8794781/Yarde-to-make-England-debut-Eastmond-starts


Rugby star to help tackle school bullying

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