Mini rugby at London Irish came into being one Sunday in November 1979 when 7 coaches and 5 players turned up. Yes, coaches outnumbered players! 3 seasons later, on Sunday 4th April 1982, Paddy Hughes (pictured here, alongside a minis team from those early days), then Honorary Secretary of Junior Rugby, headed up a small group of volunteers to organise and stage the first London Irish Mini Festival.

That first tournament comprised 400 players, competing at Under 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12. The 9 participating clubs were Barnet, Chinnor, Hertford, Kingston, London Welsh, Ruislip, Twickenham, University Vandals and ourselves. Our guest of honour was no less than rugby legend Willie John McBride, who presented medals to all players. The winners were as follows: Twickenham at Under 8 & 10, Hertford at under 9 & 11 and Ruislip at under 12.

Paul Burke, our first mini rugby player to go on to represent Ireland, played in the Under 10 competition that day, and has fondly recalled the occasion in these very pages. Over the years that followed, as the tournament went from strength to strength, many other notable players who would go on to achieve international honours, including Steffon and Delon Armitage, were eager participants.

In 1985 Palmerston FC and De La Salle RFC made history by becoming the first Irish rugby clubs to merge, and are now known as De La Salle Palmerston F.C.. It was in the tournament’s 4th year that they accepted our invitation to be the first Irish club involved, and “Salmo”, as they’re known, have competed in every subsequent festival, except in 2020 and 2021, when there was no community rugby owing to the pandemic restrictions. This year will see them visit us for the 37th time. That initial meeting was the birth of the wonderful relationship between the two clubs, and the enduring friendship and solidarity between ourselves and De La Salle Palmerston F.C. are cherished deeply to this day.

Paddy Hughes’ vision of an annual tournament for young players has now evolved into a thriving and renowned International Mini Festival and Under 12s tournament. This year the festival will comprise 200 teams representing 40 clubs from England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales, France, Germany, Holland and Jersey. We will warmly welcome in the region of 1800 players, supported by 3000 parents, siblings and coaches.

The tournament at Hazelwood, the home of London Irish Amateur, is organised and managed by a team of committed and enthusiastic volunteers who carry on the legacy of those who established this proud institution.

For details of the Mini Festival, please click here

London Irish Amateur would like to thank Gerry Gallagher and Paul Murphy for providing insights into our club, which are published in London Irish RFC home match day programmes.

London Irish Amateur would like to thank and wish Dee Wood (Chair of Mini) and Neil Sapsed (Coach U10) and all our volunteer parents, the very best of luck with this years festival. We extend a warm welcome to all our visiting teams.