INITIATIVE LAUNCHED TO GET THE UK’S KIDS PLAYING RUGBY

British computer games publisher Digital Jesters is aiming to get the nation's games players off their backsides and onto the pitch, with a programme designed to increase the awareness and popularity of rugby.

To coincide with the release of its forthcoming Pro Rugby Manager 2 PC game - which will be available on 25th February 2005 - Digital Jesters is investing £25,000 in the 'Pro Rugby Manager 2 Stars Of The Future' programme. Available by logging on to www.prorugbymanager.com, this new sporting initiative will allow youth clubs, sports centres and schools to register for special Pro Rugby Manager 2 packs which include a number of free professional rugby balls.

These packs will also contain demos of Pro Rugby Manager 2, which will allow users to experiment with tactics, formations and strategies on the computer. The game - the sequel to last year's PC smash - offers the most in-depth simulation of the sport ever devised, and is a perfect piece of software for rugby fans to bone up on their management skills. The brand new 2D tactical view works with the stunning 3D view in giving wannabe managers and players complete control over in depth attacking and defensive strategies.

"Despite the fact rugby is the fastest-growing sport in the UK, it's still way behind football as the sport of choice for the nation's youth," says Leo Zullo, Marketing Director, Digital Jesters. "Therefore, we want to help youth centres encourage kids to take up the sport through our Pro Rugby Manager 2 packs, hopefully setting some youngsters on the path to becoming International players. It's exciting to think this programme could help nurture a new Johnny Wilkinson."

Interested parties should log on to www.prorugbymanager.com to register their interest and be in line to receive their share of 5,000 rugby balls and packs.

Note to editors: Founded in 2003, Digital Jesters is a British-based publisher of computer and video games. Set up by the duo responsible for launching and establishing the Sudden Strike and Cossacks series of games in the UK, the firm's remit is simple: to source and publish the best games available. The company's commitment to originality resulting in it snapping up the original TrackMania game from French developer Nadeo and DJ's ethos of community development strategy resulted in the game becoming one of the sleeper hits of the year. A tie-in with record-breaking yachtswoman Ellen Macarthur for the firm's second release Virtual Skipper 3 ensured the game received widespread attention among the elusive non-gamer. Cyanide the developer of Chaos League, and the fast growing franchise of Pro Rugby Manager, has also firmly placed the publisher on the map. The firm has enjoyed three top 10 PC hits and is expanding its operation to cover additional territories. It has also published its own comic book to widespread critical acclaim.