T1 Tag Rugby Competition Brings 13 Schools Together for a Day of Energy and Teamwork
Pupils in Yr 5/6 from 13 Merton schools came together on Wednesday 11th March 2026 for an exciting day of sport at the inaugural T1 Tag Rugby Borough Championships, celebrating teamwork, skill, and local competition. The event, originally postponed from the November rain, brought together over 120 young athletes, creating a vibrant atmosphere filled with determination, resilience and encouragement.
Throughout the day, teams competed in 3 groups of fast-paced tag rugby matches with players demonstrating impressive agility, quick passing, and strong communication as they worked together to score tries and defend their tags. Teachers and spectating children cheered from the side-lines, adding to the energetic and supportive environment.
One of the highlights of the day was the sportsmanship shown by all teams with our overall winning REFSPECT team being named as Pelham Primary School. Players congratulated opponents, helped each other up after tough tackles, and respected the Rutlish School Sport Leadership referees’ decisions. The spirit of the day focused not only on winning matches but also on enjoying the game and building friendships between schools.
By the end of the tournament, every school had the chance to play at least 6 matches and showcase their talent. While some teams finished with more wins than others, the day was ultimately about participation, learning the new skills of T1 Tag Rugby, and celebrating the excitement of school participation.
Congratulations to our event winners Bishop Gilpin, runners-up Wimbledon Park and bronze medallists’ Hollymount. Thank you to all schools for your continued determination and preparation for this event considering the original postponement – we could clearly see the effort put in to learning and implementing the new rules and we look forward to further T1 events for 2026/27.
Thanks to Alex and the Old Rutlishians Association for hosting us and also to Mr Joyce and the Sports Leadership team at Rutlish School for the support of the young officials from year 10.