On 25th September 2026, 87 girls from Years 5 to 8, alongside several enthusiastic Year 9 Active Leaders, came together at Old Wimbledonians Rugby Club for a fantastic Girls Tag Rugby Development Festival.
The event welcomed pupils from the following Merton Schools – Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School, St Teresa’s Catholic Primary School, Hatfeild Primary School, St Peter and Paul Catholic Primary School, Hollymount School, Holy Trinity CofE Primary School, Bishop Gilpin CofE Primary School, Donhead School and Ursuline High School.
The morning session saw the girls rotate through a range of engaging skill stations, where they developed key tag rugby skills including passing, evasion, teamwork and communication. Supported by expert coaches from Harlequins and London Broncos, participants were given the opportunity to build their confidence, improve their technique and work alongside girls from other schools in a positive and encouraging environment.
The festival moved into an exciting programme of 7-a-side matches, allowing the girls to put their newly developed skills into practice. The games were played in great spirit throughout the afternoon, with players demonstrating excellent teamwork, determination and resilience. The festival provided a valuable opportunity for participants to challenge themselves, make new friendships and experience the enjoyment of competitive sport in a supportive setting.
At the conclusion of the festival, the REFSPECT Award was presented to Hollymount School in recognition of the outstanding teamwork, determination and fairness displayed by their pupils throughout the event.
We would like to extend our sincere thanks to Jade and all the coaches from Harlequins Foundation as well as Rick and Karl from the London Broncos Foundation for sharing their expertise and inspiring the participants throughout the day. A huge thank you must also go to Catherine from the Old Wimbledonians Rugby Club for providing the pitches and facilities that enabled this fantastic event to take place.
The festival was a wonderful celebration of girls’ rugby, providing opportunities for young people to develop their skills, build confidence, work with others and, most importantly, have fun.
For more information in partnership with any of the club links, please get in touch via info@mertonssp.org.uk