This saw 16 teams, comprising around 170 children, from their local cluster of schools at Batheaston, Swainswick, St Saviours, Bathampton and Bathford.

Avon’s schools liaision officer, Andie Parry, has been providing voluntary coaching sessions in these schools over the past 9 years, devoting thousands of hours introducing youngsters to the game of rugby and helping to develop their skills. But the main emphasis on this festival was for the boys and girls to have some fun, whilst enjoying the exercise and working together with their team mates. Judging from the amount of noise and excitement generated, this objective was certainly achieved!

The games were well refereed by students from St Marks school as part of their personal development (with a reward of bacon butties provided from Avon’s kitchen at the interval), whilst the overall organisation and structure of the day was adroitly handled by Brendan Rouse from B&NES School Sports Partnership. Brendan stated that “303 tries were scored across the 32 tag matches played in great spirit and every team secured at least one win or draw during the day” He also thanked Belle and Duma from Bath Rugby Foundation for running inclusive sessions in parallel with the main event.

After the games were all completed and the noise subsided, Andie donated some trophies for the presentations, with the awards going to Bathford as overall winners, to St Saviours for teamwork, to Swainswick for sportsmanship, to Bathampton for the coaches award and to Batheaston as the refs award.

Summing up, Andie later said “Above all, this was a day for the children who were an absolute credit to their schools. For me, the real pleasure was to see them playing with smiles on their faces as well as showing determination and considerable skill. They displayed the important role of teamwork in their play, such an important lesson for life.”