Aspiring young rugby players from 32 teams across the North West came together for the Defender Rising Stars Cup, hosted by the Sale Sharks Foundation, at Manchester Rugby Club this month.
The annual event, held nationwide by PREM Rugby clubs during the season, showcases the best in rugby’s values on-and-off the field, as Under-11 and Under-12 sides participate in one of the seasonal highlights of the grassroots rugby calendar.
Our festival featured 640 junior players taking to the pitch in front of watching Sharks Gus Warr, Dan du Preez and brothers Sam and Joe Bedlow.
Focusing on rugby’s core values of teamwork, respect, enjoyment, discipline, and sportsmanship, the winning Under-11 team was Chester RUFC, who now get a trip to Twickenham for the Gallagher PREM Rugby season finale.
Phil Turnbull, Chester RUFC Under-11s Head Coach, said:
“The Defender Rising Stars Cup is a hugely popular and in-demand event, and it was great to see the quality of clubs and rugby on display. All the games were played in good spirit and in accordance with the true values of our sport.
“When Chester RUFC were announced as winners of the Under-11 competition, I felt incredibly proud. It’s moments like that where you see all the effort from the players – and the coaches – truly paying off.
“A massive thank you to all the organisers and support staff who made the day run so smoothly. It’s a tournament the lads will remember for the rest of their rugby journeys.”
Joining Chester RUFC at Twickenham will be Didsbury Barbarians Under-12s, who were the winners in their respective age group.
Since the tournament’s inception in 2008, the Defender Rising Stars Cup has helped more than 125,000 children discover rugby, providing them with chances to play competitive fixtures in a format to aid their development, while some have even realised their dreams of going on to play for PREM Rugby clubs.
