Back
The Jacob Collinson story
Jill Rowbotham17 Feb - 15:42
By Tim Collinson
Jacob fell in love with rugby at 7 years old after Bolton RUFC went into his primary school to run some taster sessions. He asked me if he could play at the club and with a beaming smile, I remembered being his age sat with my dad watching England in the 5 Nations, and of course said yes. The following season at Under 8s, contact was introduced and he thrived on it, winning the coach’s most improved player award. He then went about his business developing his rugby brain and skillset to become a shoe in for whatever starting squad he was involved mostly at full back both scoring and saving umpteen tries.
At junior Colts level he became team Captain and when Bolton Rugby looked to recruit a new Mini and Junior Section Chair, Jacob jumped at the chance wanting to give something back to the club off the pitch. As Chair, in addition to reporting into the Executive Board, Jacob has helped steer the formation of a Parents Group to increase engagement between the wider club and the parents of what is the largest section of the club. He has helped to organise new training equipment for use by the section and much needed kit for coaches to wear to represent the brand of the club. He has organised minis to be mascots for the 1st XV, which has gone down very well.
Moreover, on the pitch, the junior Colts team began to train with the senior section and although not for everyone, Jacob has grown from a quiet shy lad who has suffered disappointments in rugby to one bursting with confidence as the seniors took him under their wing. The senior section recognised his abilities and at the age of 17 years and 15 days following dispensation and a cancelled fixture, he made his debut starting on the wing for the 1st XV win against Oldham. With his particularly strong defence, the team have developed a trust in him, and he has started in this position on all the games since. He’s even represented the team on local radio giving very mature and unscripted interviews.
His ambition in the years to come is to Captain the 1st XV.
His mum and I are exceptionally proud of the young man he has become and the huge increase in confidence that he will take into his working life. It is Rugby and its TREDS values, that have been his guiding light.
At junior Colts level he became team Captain and when Bolton Rugby looked to recruit a new Mini and Junior Section Chair, Jacob jumped at the chance wanting to give something back to the club off the pitch. As Chair, in addition to reporting into the Executive Board, Jacob has helped steer the formation of a Parents Group to increase engagement between the wider club and the parents of what is the largest section of the club. He has helped to organise new training equipment for use by the section and much needed kit for coaches to wear to represent the brand of the club. He has organised minis to be mascots for the 1st XV, which has gone down very well.
Moreover, on the pitch, the junior Colts team began to train with the senior section and although not for everyone, Jacob has grown from a quiet shy lad who has suffered disappointments in rugby to one bursting with confidence as the seniors took him under their wing. The senior section recognised his abilities and at the age of 17 years and 15 days following dispensation and a cancelled fixture, he made his debut starting on the wing for the 1st XV win against Oldham. With his particularly strong defence, the team have developed a trust in him, and he has started in this position on all the games since. He’s even represented the team on local radio giving very mature and unscripted interviews.
His ambition in the years to come is to Captain the 1st XV.
His mum and I are exceptionally proud of the young man he has become and the huge increase in confidence that he will take into his working life. It is Rugby and its TREDS values, that have been his guiding light.
Further reading