Youngsters take part in Premiership Rugby Cup
YOUNGSTERS from Loughborough RFC played a part in creating history as they participated in this weekend’s Land Rover Premiership Rugby Cup, hosted by Leicester Tigers. Since being launched during the 2008-09 season, the nationwide grassroots rugby event has seen more than 70,000 children take part. This season sees the tenth anniversary edition of the event – the ‘ Testimonial Season’ – with Tigers hosting their festival at Oakham RFC on Sunday. Loughborough Under-11s were one of 36 Under-11 and Under-12 teams in attendance, and even got the chance to strut their stuff in front of Tigers players Manu Tuilagi and Matt Smith, who were casting their eyes over the next generation of stars. And while they missed out on the chance to attend next May’s Aviva Premiership Rugby Final, despite their displaying plenty of skill and effort, ten-year-old Kyan Soni insisted he had loved every minute of the experience. “The tournament went well, tournaments are fun because you get to play a lot and tackle,” said the Holywell Primary School pupil. “You have fun and enjoy it, I like rugby because I like the way you play it — you can run and tackle. “I’m a Leicester Tigers fan, so having some players come down here was really good because we got see people from a famous rugby team.” Teams from across the county will compete at various festivals hosted by the 12 Aviva Premiership Rugby clubs this season, with the opportunity to earn a trip to the Aviva Premiership Rugby Final on May 26, where they will meet a Land Rover rugby ambassador, join in a Land Rover Premiership Rugby Cup Parade at half-time and hear which of them has won a club MVP award. Loughborough did at least get the chance to rub shoulders with rugby’s elite in Tuilagi and Smith, and the former admitted he had been impressed with what he had seen, in particular stressing the importance of grassroots rugby. “It’s very important to get the kids involved in tournaments like this, the younger the better,” he said. “It’s good for them to learn the skills and develop their game as young as possible. “I remember playing in similar tournaments and you learn a lot at that young age. “It’s the most important time to develop their game.” Land Rover is celebrating its ‘ Testimonial Season’; ten years of the Land Rover Premiership Rugby Cup. The national series of grassroots rugby festivals is testament to Land Rover’s continued support of grassroots rugby through its ‘ We Deal In Real’ campaign. Follow @ LandRoverRugby #WeDealInReal