Early October saw two schools rugby festivals being held at the newly refurbished West Bridgford Rugby Club at Stamford Road with a total of almost 200 children taking part.

The Year 3/4 Festival saw over 120 girls and boys attend from 17 different primary schools in the Rushcliffe area. The event was organised by Caroline Towndrow from WBRFC, who along with other club coaches volunteered their time. Leicester Tigers Community Coaches, Nottingham Rugby Club Community Coaches also helped to make the event a success.

The festivals are organised very differently from tournaments. They are refereed in a very positive way with the rules being explained as the games progress. The game situations are used as a learning tool to improve their decision making. But most important of all it is to encourage the enjoyment of the game.

Over 70 girls took part in the second festival, Year 5/6 Girls Tag Rugby Festival. West Bridgford RFC provided the coaching which hopefully fuelled an interest in their local rugby club where there is already a thriving ladies section.

Caroline Towndrow has been coaching tag rugby for Year 5/6 Girls over the last season and is now arranging tag/touch/hug/contact rugby fixtures against other local sides in November. She is hoping that the festivals have interested more girls to come down to join the West Bridgford Girls Tag section on Sunday lunchtime.

If you have someone that is interested in having a go at tag/touch/hug/contact rugby please contact Caroline at: ctowndrow-wbrfc@hotmail.com for more information.