Rugby Reading Game

Visit to Conwy schools — Visiting Conwy schools

I am now taking bookings for author visits for schools and rugby clubs. I can offer a mix to suit you of :

assemblies
presentations
workshops
virtual visits

It’s an excellent opportunity to use a love to rugby to promote reading and writing for pleasure.

Birkdale Prep Post — Birkdale Prep School

“There is no doubt that Tom Palmer has a Growth Mindset!” Reigate St Mary’s

I host a fun quiz about reading drawn from newspapers, magazines and books about rugby. The finalists compete in an exciting indoor penalty taking competition, with the winner receiving the coveted Rugby Reading Game Trophy.

Tom Palmer rugby at Hull Collegiate — Visiting Hull Collegiate

I also talk about how I became an author, offer advice on all aspects of writing and read from my new series Rugby Academy and Scrum! my first children’s rugby novel, published by Barrington Stoke.

I hosted my game over 250 times during successive Rugby World Cups to high acclaim.

If you want to know more about my visits, email me here or use admin (at) tompalmer (dot) co (dot) uk or use the form below:

Please be patient. Our replies are not automated so you will get a personal reply.

Read about my recent visit to Magdalen College Junior School

The Chair of Hartlepool & District RFU said, “It was an excellent day out, thanks to Tom’s delivery of each sessions, the children were wonderful, attentive and asked some excellent questions. We were delighted with the session at our Club, and indeed the other clubs were, and our President wrote to the local Headmaster complementing him on the way the children conducted themselves.” More here.

The Head of English at Llandovery College said: ‘Our pupils loved meeting Tom. His enthusiasm for reading (and sport) was really infectious and drew them in from the moment he arrived. The Rugby Reading Game was a great hit with both boys and girls and the chance of taking a drop kick was fiercely competed.’

The librarian at Finborough School said: ‘Thank you Tom for a fabulous, interactive event that had the children clamouring to ask questions on all aspects of being an author. It had the anti-reading constituent clamouring to buy books at the end.’

The librarian at Ipswich Preparatory School said, “I just wanted to personally thank you for a fantastic day and all of the hard work you put into making it such a great event for the Prep children. They loved it and all of a sudden after you left I had an influx of children, (girls and boys) asking where the Tom Palmer books were!!! Keep up the fantastic work and efforts and I will be HIGHLY recommending you to everyone who asks if I know of a good author!”

Game Plan :

Rugby Reading Pack

Reading from my rugby children’s series Rugby Academy and Scrum!
Up to date quiz about rugby reading : fact, biography & fiction books and rugby in the news
Drop kick contest (suitable for indoors)
Q&A with me about reading, writing and getting published
Signing session with your local bookshop
Follow up and prepare for visit with my FREE Rugby & Literacy Activity Pack

Suitability:

for groups of 30 to 300 children
from Year 3 to Year 8
45-60 minutes per session (max 3 session per day)
for girls and boys
for rugby fans and foes
Option to split costs of fee & travel expenses with another school in your region

Read more school blogs from visits with my Rugby Reading Game:

Email me here for more information or use my contact form here.

Recommendations from Schools

“Thank you so much for your visit and all that you put into it.The books have been flying off the library shelves – I may have to buy some extra copies! It was such a relief that the girls really enjoyed the Rugby Game sessions with Tom, just as much as the boys! He came prepared to include some football questions within his rugby quiz, and he was really good at remembering which children had already answered questions correctly, so that as many as possible had a go. The penalty kicks proved more difficult than anyone expected, and the winners were delighted with their trophies – a really nice touch! But what really struck me, and many other members of staff, was the unassuming but friendly way in which he related to individual children – in particular one physically disabled lad who was hugely excited to have a chat with Tom all to himself.” Mary Cassidy St Neot’s Hampshire

“Thank you Tom for a fabulous, interactive event that had the children clamouring to ask questions on all aspects of being an author and enthusiastically participating in The Rugby Reading Game. It drew in both boys and girls and even had the anti-reading constituent clamouring to buy books at the end. Thoroughly recommended! ” Val Gould – Finborough School October 2011

Our pupils (and those from a neighbouring school) – years 5 – 8, really loved meeting Tom, his enthusiasm for his work (and sport) was really infectious and drew them in from the moment he arrived. The rugby reading quiz was a great hit with both boys and girls and the chance of taking a drop kick was fiercely competed – it was great to see (in a rugby playing school – home of George North, Alun Wyn Jones and Andy Powell) one of the girls winning the junior kick off! All in all we had a fantastic day with Tom and pupils are already asking when he can come back!’ Mike Powell, Lllandovery College

“I just wanted to personally thank you for a fantastic day and all of the hard work you put into making it such a great event for the Prep children. They loved it and all of a sudden after you left I had an influx of children, (girls and boys) asking where the Tom Palmer books were!!! Rebecca, Tom spoke so highly of you and the hard work you do and I am, as are the rest of the staff very grateful for the certificates and for the organization of information for the reading challenge! You make a mighty team and it really was great to have an experience like this for the children. When we have down loaded the photos and any press bits and bobs I promise to forward onto you. So thank you. My little boy loved the signed books Tom and has nearly completed Scrum and loving it! Already this evening he has read 7 chapters! Keep up the fantastic work and efforts and I will be HIGHLY recommending you to everyone who asks if I know of a good author! Many thanks and look forward to your twitter updates! Have to say I blushed with pride for the school by your comment so thank you. “ Ipswich Preparatory School

Just a quick belated not to thank you for your sessions at Ilkley Grammar School last Friday. I think I enjoyed them as much as the children did. It really was a great pleasure working with you and I hope we get the opportunity to work together again in the future. Ilkley Literature Festival September 2011

I really enjoyed the games that you did with us. The thing I enjoyed the most was trying to answer some of the questions you asked us. I also enjoyed the book. Cara

It was a really fun and enjoyable time. I liked the questions you gave us to get into the rugby penalty shootout; luckily I got one but I failed with the kick over the posts. I have not read your book yet but I bet it is really exciting. Overall it was amazing Owen

I was really excited to go to a book launch because I could actually meet a person who has written a book and got it published. I really liked the bit when you were asking us questions even though I wasn’t lucky enough to get to do the penalty shootout. It was a really good experience for me because I want to be an author when I grow up so I learnt a lot. I really liked your book and will buy your other books if I can. Thank you for the amazing experience. William

I really enjoyed the book launch and the games you did with us there. I really liked the rugby penalty shootout you did with us. I’m glad I bought the book because it looks really good and I can’t wait to read it. Thank you for talking about the book. Heather (Pupil from Llandovery College )

Buy Books

Signed and dedicated copies of all my books are available personalised to order from my local independent children’s bookshop “The Thoughtful Spot” here.