- 240 pupils engaged in competitive T1 Tag Rugby
- 100+ girls participating across the festival
- Delivered as part of England Rugby’s Love Rugby programme, supporting engagement ahead of the Women’s Rugby World Cup
- 5 coaches supporting delivery and officiating
- 2-hour festival featuring group stages and knockout competition
- Year 5/6 final decided by a golden point try scored by a girl
- Positive opportunities for teamwork, leadership, resilience and sportsmanship
The Tag Rugby Festival at Baildon Church of England Primary School successfully brought together 240 children from local schools, providing an inclusive and engaging opportunity for pupils to experience competitive rugby in a positive environment.
With over 100 girls taking part, the event reflected the continued growth of the girls’ game and supported the aims of England Rugby’s Love Rugby programme, helping to inspire the next generation of players ahead of the Women’s Rugby World Cup.
The festival was planned and led by Jake, with coaches Tom, James, Leon and Freddie officiating matches throughout the event. Support from Mr Gomersall and Miss Dunne of Baildon C of E ensured the smooth running of fixtures, scoring and competition management.
The quality of rugby on display was exceptional. Throughout the tournament, pupils demonstrated strong passing, support play, communication, defensive awareness and teamwork. Referees noted that confidence and decision-making improved as the competition progressed, with players embracing both the challenge and enjoyment of representing their schools.
To see 240 children enjoying rugby and representing their school was fantastic. What stood out most was the enthusiasm from every team and the number of girls taking part. The event was designed to give pupils a positive experience of competition, and the standard of rugby on display exceeded our expectations.”
The level of engagement throughout the tournament was excellent. Every pitch was full of energy, and pupils were constantly encouraging their teammates. It was particularly pleasing to see so many girls playing with confidence and making a real impact in games.”
As the tournament progressed, you could see players growing in confidence and understanding. The quality of passing, support play and defensive organisation improved throughout the morning.”
One of the most memorable moments came in the Year 5/6 final, where a golden-point winning try scored by a girl brought the tournament to a dramatic conclusion. The moment perfectly reflected both the competitive spirit of the event and the growing impact of girls’ rugby.
The knockout matches demonstrated just how much talent there is across our local schools. The final was a brilliant example of resilience, teamwork and determination from both teams.”
A particularly important aspect of the festival was the contribution of Leon, who officiated throughout the event. As a coach with additional needs, Leon provided an outstanding role model for young people, demonstrating that everyone can contribute, lead and succeed within sport.
I loved seeing every child get involved and enjoy themselves. Sport is great for bringing friends together. They all played with confidence and teamwork.”
His involvement reinforced the festival’s inclusive values and provided a powerful example for pupils, particularly those with additional needs, that there are no limits to what can be achieved through sport.
Mr Gomersall (Head of PE at Baildon C of E)
As PE Lead at Baildon CE Primary School, it was amazing to see over 200 pupils engaged and enjoying a sport that was new to some and showing a clear improvement even from the start of the festival to the end. The coaches at White Rose Rugby supported all the children to be involved and created a safe environment that the children appreciated and thrived in.I had a group of girls asking after the event if I could organise a rugby club for them to participate in which I believe shows the impact that the festival had in creating a love for rugby.”
Miss Dunne (Include Miss D’s role)
‘Miss D to provide a short quote’
The Tag Rugby Festival was a highly successful event that combined participation, inclusion and competition. Through strong partnership working, high-quality coaching and links to England Rugby’s Love Rugby programme, the event provided memorable sporting experiences for 240 young people, including over 100 girls, while promoting the values of teamwork, respect, resilience and enjoyment that sit at the heart of rugby.
