Year 5 play rugby at Twickenham

Storm Arwen and a 6am departure time from Prior didn't put off a group of our Year 5 boys from travelling down to London with Mr Goodman and Mr Garlington on Saturday morning. The boys had been invited to play in a rugby festival at Twickenham Stadium before the Samoa v Barbarians international, a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. The boys played two matches, against strong opposition from Brighton College and Hymer's College (from Hull). The quality of rugby was extremely high with lots of passing, running and tenacious tackling. The Paragon won both matches with the boys able to tell their grandchildren in years to come that they were undefeated at Twickenham!

Unfortunately the Samoa v Barbarians match was cancelled due to a number of players testing positive for Covid but we were able to stay to watch the South Africa Women v Barbarians Women international instead. The crowd of over 29,000 was a world record for a women's rugby international.  

It was an honour to have been invited to play at Twickenham, the 'Home of Rugby' and it was an appropriate way to finish what has been a very busy rugby term. As well as the various school fixtures, other highlights included a group of Year 5 and 6 children forming the Guard of Honour at the Bath Rugby v Saracens match and the U10A team being undefeated at the Queen's College Festival in Taunton against super-strong teams. It's not quite the end for Paragon Rugby this year though...we look forward to attending the U11A Rugby Sevens Festival in Stonyhurst College in Lancashire next term.