After a very special Saturday which saw the Red Roses lift the Womens Rugby World Cup at Twickenham, 250 players and a similar number of supporters from across Sussex gathered at Whitemans Green for a fantastic HHRFC Girls Rugby Festival.

Teams from Crowborough, East Grinstead, Hastings and Bexhill, Haywards Heath, Hove, Lewes, Pulborough, Uckfield and Seaford rugby clubs played a series of pool matches in which the standard of rugby was consistently high and the rugby values of Teamwork, Respect, Enjoyment, Discipline and Sportsmanship shone through.

The top two teams from each pool at each age group then played off in their respective finals. At Under 12s, the very impressive Crowborough team just lost out to Uckfield/Haywards Heath in an excellent final. At Under 14s, Hove, who had been superbly represented by two teams in the pool stage, took on Uckfield/Haywards Heath, who continued their form from the pool stage to come out on top 20-5.

At Under 16s, while Hove with reduced numbers had set the pool alight with their speedy and powerful play, the two sides left standing with full XVs played off in the final, with Pulborough and Haywards Heath sharing the spoils.

Trophies were presented by the captain of the new Heath Ladies team, El Davey, who also helped lead a fantastic taster session for younger girls as part of the festival. A 'Player of the Festival' from each team was also chosen by their coaches and it was notable how many of these trophies were won by girls playing their first competitive rugby on the day. It was a particularly special first day of rugby for Uckfield/Heath U14s winner Faye Johnson, whose power and pace saw her score ten tries across six matches!

The day was a fantastic celebration of girls rugby on what was already a very special weekend thanks to the Red Roses' superb World Cup win. Women's and Girls' Rugby continues to go from strength to strength across the country, county and at HHRFC where new players of all ages are always welcome. For more information contact youth@hhrfc.co.uk or womensrugby@hhrfc.co.uk.