BARRELS of beers and cider were drained by the dozen over the weekend at Cirencester Rugby Football Club’s annual beer festival.

Club Chairman Tim Thompson said: “On Friday night we had a dinner and a dance which was attended by just under 100 people. The beer festival opened at noon on Saturday and was very well attended despite the weather.”

“Sunday saw the traditional family fun day and registration session for young players which included face painting and a bouncy castle.”

The annual festival is the club’s biggest fundraiser and saw the better part of 35 barrels of real ale, 10 barrels of cider and 2 barrels of perry finished over the weekend.

The club recently took on new coaching staff, who are aiming for the club’s first team to be promoted this season.

Staff and players at the club raised a glass to teammate Ashley Scrivens on Sunday night after hearing that he had died from melanoma that day, aged 24.