LIMERICK club Richmond RFC (boys and girls) were just two of the Mini Rugby sides that took part in the Aviva Mini Rugby Festival 11th April in Portlaoise. The young side played in the festival, which saw 25 teams from across the country taking part with some potential future Irish internationals on the pitch across the day.
The Festival gave teams a chance to develop their skills against sides from all over Ireland, learning new ways to play the game, all under the watchful eye of Irish International Rhys Ruddock, recent Women’s RBS Six Nations winner Nora Stapleton and the IRFU Age Grade staff.
Along with bringing along both Six Nations trophies, they took time to run skill sessions with the young players and give advice to the teams on developing their skills and how to improve their game.
The Aviva Mini Rugby Festivals offer a safe and fun environment for children to pick up and develop the key rugby skills. It also gives teams the chance to bond and grow together but to also gain ideas from teams across the country to bring back to their own area and continue to bring the game forward nationwide.
Each of the competitors on the day received a certificate signed by Paul O’Connell, Rory Best and Jamie Heaslip along with a branded IRFU and Aviva water bottle.
Irish International Rhys Ruddock, said; “My first memories were playing in mini rugby festivals like this. Seeing so many kids out getting such exposure to rugby at this young age, we may well be watching a few of these wearing the green of Ireland in the future.”
Recent Six Nations winner Nora Stapleton, said; “We had 5 girls teams here today, so girls minis are definitely on the rise. Winning the Six Nations trophy this year only helps get more girls involved and it’s great to see so many teams from all over Ireland involved in the festival.”
Mark Russell, Sponsorship Manager, Aviva Ireland, said; “This was a great event for all the teams involved. We want children to get playing sport from an early age and the Mini Rugby Festivals provide the perfect safe and fun environment to do that. It gave clubs the chance to meet up, create ties and foster ideas that will help develop the game nationwide and that what we want to do. Who knows we may have seen the next Jamie Heaslip or Robbie Henshaw out on the pitches last weekend.”
All the sides involved are now being encouraged to apply to take part in the Aviva National Mini Rugby Festival which will take place at the Aviva Stadium on the 23rd May. Entries are open to all clubs across the country and gives teams a chance to play on the hallow turf of the current Six Nations Champions.
