Rugby All-Stars Announces Community Partnership with Mark James Building Contractors

Rugby All-Stars is delighted to announce a new community partnership with Mark James Building Contractors, providing fully funded rugby coaching sessions to more than 70+ Year 5 and Year 6 pupils at Burlish Park Primary School.

The partnership is giving children the opportunity to experience rugby completely free of charge, while developing their physical fitness, mental wellbeing, confidence and important life skills through sport.

The sessions are currently being delivered by Rugby All-Stars coach James Johnston, a Premiership winner with Harlequins and former Samoa international, who brings over a decade of professional rugby experience to the programme.

Having competed at the highest level of the game, James is now using his experience to inspire the next generation, introducing pupils to rugby while sharing valuable lessons around teamwork, resilience, discipline, respect and the importance of maintaining a positive mindset.

For many of the children, this is their first opportunity to receive coaching from an international rugby player, creating a unique experience that extends far beyond the rugby pitch.

As part of their commitment to the initiative, Mark James Building Contractors has also funded free branded T-shirts for every participating child, featuring both the Rugby All-Stars and Mark James Building Contractors logos prominently on the front. The T-shirts provide a lasting reminder of the partnership, creating a sense of belonging among pupils and celebrating the positive impact of local businesses supporting grassroots sport.

Supporting Local Communities Through Rugby

The initiative highlights the positive impact that local businesses can have through corporate social responsibility (CSR), creating meaningful opportunities for young people through investment in grassroots sport.

By funding both the coaching programme and the branded T-shirts, Mark James Building Contractors is helping to remove barriers to participation, ensuring children have access to high-quality sports coaching. 

Alongside developing rugby skills, the sessions focus on improving physical and mental wellbeing, building confidence, encouraging teamwork and teaching important life lessons that pupils can carry into their education and everyday lives.

Scott Hall, Founder of Rugby All-Stars, said:

"We are incredibly grateful to Mark and the team at Mark James Building Contractors for their support in making this programme possible.

At Rugby All-Stars, we believe rugby has the power to make a real difference to young people's lives. It's not just about developing rugby players, but about building confidence, improving physical and mental wellbeing and teaching important life lessons through sport.

Having someone of James Johnston's experience delivering these sessions is fantastic. To have a Premiership winner and Samoa international working directly with children in local primary schools is exactly what Rugby All-Stars is about.

Providing 16 free sessions to over 70 children, alongside branded T-shirts funded by Mark James Building Contractors for every pupil, is something we're incredibly proud of. We want to continue working with businesses to create meaningful social value, support local communities and ultimately help use sport as a vehicle."

Making a Positive Impact

Mike James Operations Director at Mark James Building Contractors, said:

“It was amazing to hear about the work that Rugby All stars are doing in local communities to allow children the opportunity to play rugby and have the access to high level coaching. As a workplace who love the sport, it was an exciting prospect for us to work with them and to be able to sponsor some sessions in our local area. Scott was able to engage in conversations with a primary school less than 3 miles away from our office and from this we have been able to fund weekly sessions to their Year 5 children, reaching approximately 70-90 players.  What a fantastic opportunity for the children to have former premiership player James Johnston delivering the sessions and it is great to hear that the children have thrived in the programme and have emersed themselves in the experience. We look forward to working with Rugby All Stars again in the future.”

Joseph Lindley, School Sports Coordinator of Burlish Park Primary School said:

It has been absolutely brilliant for our pupils to have had some rugby coaching from James Johnston. The pupils have thoroughly enjoyed the sessions, which James has led amazingly.

The progress of the pupils has been superb and to see all our year 5 pupils smiling and being physically active each week has been a highlight of this half term.

Some of the pupils will be putting their newly learnt skills to the test in November when they play some friendly matches against other local schools at Stourport Rugby Club, which they are looking forward to.

We are extremely thankful to Mark James Building Contractors for funding the programme.

Growing the Game, Supporting the Community

Rugby All-Stars is committed to making rugby more accessible to young people through its partnerships with schools, grassroots clubs and local businesses.

Through its corporate-funded school programmes, Rugby All-Stars provides businesses with an opportunity to make a genuine difference in their communities, creating meaningful social value through increased physical activity, improved wellbeing and access to positive sporting experiences.

The organisation also works to create pathways between schools and local rugby clubs, encouraging children who enjoy their introduction to the sport to continue playing rugby within their communities.

The partnership with Mark James Building Contractors demonstrates how businesses can make a lasting impact through grassroots sport, supporting schools, inspiring young people and helping to develop the next generation of rugby players.

Rugby All-Stars welcomes enquiries from businesses interested in supporting similar initiatives, funding coaching programmes in local schools and making a positive difference through sport.