WELCOME to Selby R.U.F.C. for our 34th Mini-Rugby Festival. We trust that the weather will be fine and that both spectators and players enjoy a good days sport.

Youth rugby is now an integral part of the development of junior rugby clubs, they hopefully act as the conveyor belt which will drive the success of its senior teams in years to come. We at Selby know only too well what a massive impact youth rugby has had on our club, to the extent that we are enormously proud of turning out 5 senior sides every Saturday as well as micros (under 6’s) through to under 17’s.

Next season we will see our strategy which we laid out many years ago come to fruition when we will have a team in every age group from under 6 to 19. Last weekend 15 out of our first XV squad of 18, came through our Youth section, 6 players were aged 20 or below with two under 18’s and a further 3 were below 22 years of age, a massive testament to the impact youth rugby is having at our club. It has meant we have been able to reduce the average age of our first XV squad by 10 years, over the course of the last 5 seasons and we have achieved this by holding true to the traditions of ‘Amateur Rugby’ with our ambition of being the most successful truly ‘Amateur’ club in the county.

Those of you visiting Selby Rugby Club today for the first time since last year will notice some major ground improvements; we now have floodlights which cover 3 pitches and we have recently completed a £450,000 stand and changing room development programme to give our young players the modern facilities which is expected of a progressive club.

We are also proud of our festival and particularly our tradition of not charging teams to enter the tournament! Today continues to be an end of season celebration of mini rugby at Selby. We have invited, as our guests, teams we have previously enjoyed playing across the age groups, based upon shared values of respect, competitiveness and touchline camaraderie.

Festivals are for the enjoyment of all and are only possible due to the army of volunteers who have given their valuable time and enthusiasm in making today possible. Their motivation is simply that all participants have fun and in return, all they ask is that all parents and players respect their opponents and officials at all times.           

Coaches meeting will take place in the Jackson Lounge at 10:25am.

Presentation for winning team and runners up will be made on the pitch by Mr Michael Sharp, President of Selby Rugby Club and Rob Taylor, 1^st Team Captain at the end of the last game of the competition for that age group. Players and spectators of those teams not in the final are asked to stay and support the final and presentation.

I would also like to take this opportunity to thank our many sponsors for their support.  Please use the services of our sponsors wherever possible.