Last weekend Hazelwood the home of London Irish hosted not only the club's annual International Mini Festival but, for the first time, an exciting adult game where the Wild Geese defeated local rivals Windsor to secure a place in the league. It was a great showcase for community rugby throughout.

The weekend of sport was made all the more enjoyable by the beautiful weather and this helped ensure a great party atmosphere. For the large number of supporters for the adult game on Saturday afternoon to the hordes of children and parents (more than 2,000) who came to the two-day festival everyone left Hazel Hazelwood with a smile on their face.

The London Irish international mini festival is a deep-rooted mainstay of the club's calendar stretching back over 40 years. It is open to teams of youngsters up to the age of 12 and attracts a broad church of clubs from both near and far. This year proved to be a great success both on and off the field with lots of enjoyable jousting between budding young stars of the future coupled with their parents making lots of new links with like-minded folks from other clubs. Hazelwood welcomed over 2,000 children over the weekend who were greeted on the Sunday morning by the sound of a bagpiper playing them in!

Many of these visiting clubs have been coming for years and for some it was their first time . For example, USO Massif Central visited us, having made the journey from Paris. They played an entertaining brand of rugby and ended up as finalists in the u12 competition. They were not the only overseas visitors as the club hosted five sides from Ireland and one from Holland. They joined the other 20+ clubs over the weekend and it was really interesting to see how their shared interest in the game enables strangers to interact and have an enjoyable day out. This became clear especially on Saturday evening as there was a great party atmosphere that ran on late into the evening.

One of the long-standing visitors over the weekend is testament to the power of sport to build deep connections within the rugby community. Over 43 years ago a very special relationship was forged between two clubs that remain steadfast friends right up to today. London Irish and De La Salle Palmerston RFC (DLSP), a club based in the Dublin suburbs, have built a link which for many is remarkable.

The connection is actually a two-way one. London Irish under 12's organise a rite of passage tour to Dublin where the team plays DLSP and Clontarf.

This is reciprocated a few weeks later when both Dublin sides come to London to play in the London Irish Festival. This year the president of DLSP Owen O’Leary and his partner Lisa led the 60 strong tour party and it was great to discuss with him how rugby contributes to community sport on both sides of the Irish Sea. It was also interesting to chat about the wide network of connections that has been forged between people in both clubs as a result of this link.

Of course none of this would be possible without the hard work of a devoted team of volunteers who spent the last year working away quietly in the background. Securing bookings from clubs, making logistical arrangements and a myriad of other thankless tasks. Then the clockwork execution of all the administrative functions over the two days. From car parking marshals, to referees, to pitch side coordinators, to first-aid. There's a lot to do. This is another great example of a community coming together in a common cause.

Reflecting on this marvellous weekend one cannot but marvel at the power of community sports to secure the engagement of a wide range of personalities. It is one of its great strengths. Having attended the festival for more years than I care to remember this is the common thread. We are very fortunate to have a committed and diverse range of members in the club. London Irish is many things to many people – it is not only part of the global rugby community family, it is part of the local community in Sunbury and has been for more than 60 years. It is also a community where all its members whether local or of Irish heritage are committed to a common goal that of nurturing and protecting this precious community sports asset.

Long may it continue

Chris Kane