Rugby League Reads
This project's parent organization is National Rugby League
It operates in Australia
It uses Rugby League
Entered the Sport for Education Award
More about Rugby League Reads
Previous national and international research and reports on boys and literacy overwhelmingly show boys’ literacy results, interest and attitudes are generally lower than their female peers. The common reasons for this are the lack of male role models as readers in schools and in the home, as well as low interest level of many of texts traditionally used in the classroom. Many boys, but also girls, consider reading a feminised activity. Rugby League is one of the most popular professional sports in Australia, that is particularly engaging for young boys.
The NRL’s literacy resources entitled ‘Rugby League Reads’ include curriculum linked teaching and learning magazines for students and accompanying teacher resources for Years 3-6 plus a set of Readers for Years K-2. The Rugby League Reads resources were designed to directly combat the research on boys and literacy discussed above. The success of the Rugby League Reads magazines has multiple dimensions: the Text Types link to the NSW English Syllabus, the use of First Grade Rugby League players as role models to promote reading, all 16 NRL clubs are represented, the magazine style layout is appealing to children – it is a purely educational resource using Rugby League as a engaging theme.