We would like to welcome you to our 43rd Mini Rugby Festival at London Irish ARFC. It has been a fantastic season and we can think of no better way to close our season than by ensuring you all have a wonderful day of mini rugby today.

We would like to extend a very special welcome to all those teams who have travelled from far and wide to be with us this weekend including their travelling supporters. As well as clubs from across mainland England, we also have teams from Jersey, Ireland, France and the Netherlands. It is so wonderful to see old friends returning as well as new clubs joining us for their first experience of our International mini festival. We hope that those clubs attending for their first time will enjoy our warm hospitality and return to us year after year.

This year we have over 2000 players making up 200 teams, 40 top-class rugby teams - some returning for what has become their annual tour whilst others are joining us for the first time. Travelling a long distance to play mini rugby whether that be on the day or as part of a weekend away – is a right of passage for any young player. We hope that all the players enjoy their mini rugby experience with us today, that they will keep cherished memories and make life-long friends through this most wonderful sport.

Organising a festival of this magnitude takes a team of dedicated volunteers. Without these amazing individuals, this festival, quite simply, would not be able to take place. Over the past few months, they have given up their time and sometimes their sanity (!), to make today the best it can possibly be; (the legend) Liam Caplis, Angus Allen and Hywel Gammage, from the entry processing, to the vendor and car parking teams and many more… none of this would have come together without these volunteers. To you, we would like to say an enormous “go raibh míle maith agat”.

A special thank you must also go to Bernice Walen and Andrew Speight at Hazelwood. Making sure you are all fed and watered this weekend as well as being very accommodating with all the changes that have been discussed along the way! In addition, we are delighted that our Head Physio, Michael Lambert-Griffiths will be here today!

Mini and youth rugby require a huge amount of time and effort. Whilst we can all appreciate the skills and progress we see on the pitch, it is all too easy to forget how much work goes on behind the scenes to ensure the safety of the players as well as development of their skills. So, to all our head coaches, managers, coaches, first aiders, car park volunteers, tour fundraisers and all the other volunteers associated with each of our age groups – thank you; you are valued more that you will ever know and your efforts have not gone unnoticed.

Today is all about mini rugby! Watching the players play, develop, make friends and have fun. Please respect the players, referees and the spectators code and remember we are all volunteers. Make yourselves at home. Enjoy the many food vendors on offer, the stalls and the entertainment. If you see us around, please do say hi!

Finally, we really hope you enjoy your day and that you return to Hazelwood again soon.

Go n'eiri an tadh leat

Adam Williams & Graeme Richards
Co-Chairs of Mini Rugby
London Irish ARFC