Rugby Festivals

As we transitioned into Term 2 sports, our focus immediately shifted to preparing for the Midlands Rugby Festivals. Conditioning has been a key priority, ensuring our players are physically prepared and resilient to minimise the risk of injuries throughout the season.

Our 1st XV took to the field at the Louis Botha Festival, hosted by Merchiston. The conditions were far from ideal for running rugby, with relentless rain testing both our boys and spectators. In our opening match against Pelham, a few missed tackles proved costly as we ran out of time to close the deficit, ultimately going down 5-0. However, the boys quickly adapted, tightening their defensive structures and sharpening their decision-making to secure a 0-0 draw against Cordwalles in the second fixture. Unfortunately, with the weather deteriorating further, the festival was called off for player safety.

The following week provided another valuable opportunity for match play, with local schools hosting age-group festivals to maximise game time. Clifton welcomed the U9s, Cowan House hosted the U10s, St. Charles facilitated the U11s, and the Open teams traveled to Howick. Across all levels, teams played a minimum of three matches, allowing coaches to experiment with different combinations, refine ball movement, and assess both defensive and attacking patterns.

At U9 and U10 levels, boys continue to develop their skills in the 10-man format, while the U11s transition into the 15-man structure, introducing them to a more tactical and structured style of play. Across all fixtures, the boys displayed enthusiasm and sportsmanship, embracing the challenges and growing with each game.