Despite the challenges of bad weather and local road closures, the Esher Autumn Minis Festival was a day to remember, marking a record turnout for Esher Rugby Club. For the first time ever, we introduced the Centenary Pitches, allowing us to welcome an incredible 19 clubs, 170 teams, and approximately 3,500 visitors to our grounds.
A special highlight was the U8 Barbarians-style team, which featured 50% girls, showcasing the growing diversity and inclusion in the sport. The event was a true celebration of rugby's core values of teamwork and community spirit.
The success of the day wouldn’t have been possible without the dedication of our 53 core volunteers, who worked tirelessly to manage the flow of 1,200 parked cars, distribute over 1,000 free hot dogs, and ensure smooth registration as teams arrived. As well as those 53 hardly soles, the hard work didn’t stop there—with volunteers at the ever-popular sweet stall, which raised over £1,000 towards the end-of-season tour, and also the countless pitch marshals, a pair of DofE coaches helping the U9s, and parents, coaches, first aiders and DJs, all found throughout the festival - truly showing how important every effort was in making the day a huge success.
The weather may have been damp, but the spirit of rugby was shining bright. From the children’s enthusiasm on the pitch to the parents and carers cheering them on, everyone contributed to making this day unforgettable.
A huge thank you to the clubs who made it all possible: Barnes, Battersea Ironsides, Croydon, Effingham & Leatherhead, Farnham, Hammersmith & Fulham, Haywards Heath, Kings Rugby, Kingston, OCs, Old Emanuel, Old Reigatians, Old Wimbledon Warriors, Reeds, Sutton & Epsom, Trinity Titans, Twickenham, and Wimbledon RFC.
We can't wait to welcome everyone back for the Esher Spring Minis Festival on 2nd March, 2025. See you then for another incredible day of rugby!
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