Schools Rugby Festival at Hastings and Bexhill RFC

Together with Hastings and Bexhill RFC, Active Hastings were delighted to run two school rugby festivals this spring.

On 18 April, 11 primary schools from across Hastings and Rother came together to enjoy an afternoon of rugby. The festival for children from years 5 and 6, focussed on enjoyment and participation and was underpinned by the rugby club's ethos of teamwork, respect, enjoyment, discipline and sportsmanship.

The secondary school festival then took place on 29 April, where the St Leonards Academy, Bexhill Academy and Claverham Community College brought over 50 students to participate in the day, which included separate boys' and girls' teams. The festival was also accompanied by a skills training session for the students, delivered by the experienced coaching team from Hastings and Bexhill RFC.

Sarah Ruusuvuori, Active Hastings Youth Link Worker said: "We would like to say a big thank you and well done to all the schools who joined us and the Hastings and Bexhill Rugby Club, for our primary and secondary school festival.

"It was a year of so many firsts, the first year to have both boy and girl teams in the primary school festival, and the first year to run a secondary school festival. We were so proud of all the children who participated, there was a great atmosphere, made even better by the parents and carers who came along to support and cheer on the players."

For information on Hastings and Bexhill RFC email Membershiphandb@gmail.com

Active Hastings is hosted by Hastings Borough Council, in partnership with East Sussex County Council, and brings together a wide range of local and national partners to ensure that everyone in Hastings can get active. There are a range of exercise classes to suit everyone, visit the Active Hastings website for the list of activities happening near you.

-ENDS-
Notes to editor:

Active Hastings
Active Hastings works closely with local providers of physical activity to give you easy, fun ways to get your everyday dose of physical activity. It only takes 30 minutes a day for adults and 60 a day for children to get fitter, healthier and happier. You can even break it down into 10 minute slots!

Active Hastings coordinates the local Community Physical Activity Network, which brings together schools, sport clubs, National Governing Bodies of Sport, health organisations, the voluntary sector and the private sector to work together, unblock barriers to participation and improve the local sport and physical activity delivery system.

Active Hastings is hosted by Hastings Borough Council, in partnership with East Sussex County Council, but brings together a wide range of local and national partners to ensure that everyone in Hastings can get active.

Find out more or follow them on Facebook 'Active Hastings'.

For more information contact Emma Bailey (She/Her), Social Marketing and Communications Officer, Active Hastings, Hastings Borough Council on 01424 451 145 or emma.bailey@hastings.gov.uk

Hastings & Bexhill Rugby Football Club

The first game of rugby recorded was against Willesden Football Club on the 17th November 1883 which is the same year that Sussex RFU was formed. Rugby carried on in the area until 1914 when the World War called a halt to everything.  In 1924 a group of players met at the Yelton hotel and from this Hastings & Bexhill Rugby Football Club was formed meaning that this year we are celebrating our centenary anniversary. Today the club have a thriving minis and juniors section with about 250 children playing every Sunday and field two men's teams.

They have also forged links into two Premiership Clubs to feed players into their Development programs, and regularly participate in activities before, between and after their premiership fixtures. The club is based at Ark William Parker School and welcomes players of all abilities. Further information can be found at https://www.hastingsrugby.org/.

The club ensures they teach the key values of rugby; Teamwork, Respect, Enjoyment, Discipline and Sportsmanship.