With Rugby League World Cup (RLWC) fast approaching, Leeds Rugby Foundation hosted a hugely successful RLWC Tag Rugby Festival at Headingley Carnegie Stadium yesterday which saw close to 200 children from 13 Leeds Primary Schools’ perform a cultural presentation on their allocated RLWC country, before competing in a RLWC Festival.
The schools were specifically selected for their continued engagement in Rugby League and have been recommended by the Leeds and Hunslet Schools Committee for their attitude and drive to deliver sport in particular Rugby League within their school as well as their involvement with the Leeds Rugby Foundation Ambassador Scheme.
The morning session saw some fantastic presentations performed, but the eventual winners were Hunslet St Joseph’s Primary School who were representing current RLWC champions New Zealand.
The afternoon commenced with some equally fantastic tag rugby skills on show on the Headingley Carnegie turf, which will soon see World Cup champions New Zealand play Papua New Guinea (PNG) on November 8th. After a hard fought, yet enjoyable festival, St. Augustine’s Primary School, representing Tonga were crowned the winners!
The Schools that took part with their allocated RLWC teams are as follows:
Castleton Primary School – Italy
Hunslet St Joseph’s Primary School – New Zealand
Churwell Primary School – England
All Saints Primary School – Australia
Drighlington Primary School – France
St Augustine’s Primary School – Tonga
Woodlesford Primary School – USA
Holy Family Primary School -FIJI
Bramley St Peters Primary School – Ireland
Lower Wortley Primary School – Samoa
Green Lane Primary School – PNG
Beecroft Primary School – Wales
Queensway Primary School – Scotland
Leeds Rugby Foundation Primary Schools Development Officer Tony Aubrey commented: “It was an absolutely wonderful event.
“The highlight of the day for me had to be seeing all those children enjoying themselves representing their country of the 2013 RLWC,” he continued.
“Also it is brilliant to know that all those children will have the chance to come and watch world champions New Zealand take on PNG as well as taking part in a pitch parade at Headingley Carnegie Stadium on 8th November.”