Exeter schoolchildren celebrate RWC 2015

Rugby excitement gripped school children today with just one day until the start of the Rugby World Cup 2015. Primary aged children had their very own spectacular and colourful rugby world cup relay festival to mark the start of the tournament. The main festival site was at West Exe School but the fun wasn't only there!

Eight schools took part in the event which was organised by the RWC15 legacy group a partnership led by local primary schools, Mike Barratt, Active Devon, Exeter City Council, rugby clubs and other local partners.

“Having the rugby world cup come to Exeter is such a golden opportunity for schools to learn about rugby, teamwork and some of the cultures of participating nations” said Katy Leonard from Active Devon. “Active Devon is delighted to be part of the tag rugby and relay festival in Exeter and we hope that the excitement of the world cup has rubbed off on all the children, staff and parents today”.

The West Exe Rugby and Running Squad had the gruelling task of running eight rugby balls to each of the participating primary schools around Exeter, starting at West Exe School. The specially convened relay squad made up of school children, experienced runners and ex rugby players, Richard Baxter, Marc Dibble and Shane Kingsland then made their way across the city to Exwick , Redhills, Bowhill, Montgomery, St Thomas, Alphington and Ide. And these weren’t just any old rugby balls either! Each school eagerly awaited the arrival of their very own rugby ball which was signed by the Exeter Chiefs rugby squad and forms part of the legacy commitment of the city.

Whilst the running squad worked up a sweat on the highways and byeways of Exeter, the children got active in their own way. Participating schools congregated at West Exe school for a tag rugby festival with a difference. Each school took on the colours and culture of a playing nation, so the day was a colourful fusion of different continents.

In the true spirit of such a major sporting event, there was an opening and closing ceremony with the tag rugby tournament happening in-between. The eventual winners were Exwick (Argentina), with Bowhill (England) as runners up. But what parents, schools and others are wondering however, is whether the final score will bear any resemblance to the actual outcome of the main Rugby World Cup 2015 tournament!