PRIMARY SCHOOLS from around the county invaded Cirencester Rugby Club to take part in an event that recreated the Rugby World Cup (RWC).

Pupils from 36 schools across the county represented world nations, in a tag rugby tournament organised by Cirencester Kingshill School (CKS) on September 18, that had the same league and knock-out format as the biggest event on the rugby calendar.

To capture the spirit of the world cup, pitches at the club were renamed after RWC stadiums such as Twickenham and Kingsholm and the tournament was opened with the pupils performing a haka, an ancestral war cry and dance performed by the New Zealand rugby team.

Head of PE at Kingshill School, Paul Hamblin, said: “The sun being out was amazing and the atmosphere is buzzing.

“We have had an opening ceremony that has given us goose bumps as they paraded around Twickenham.

“We are proud and honoured to have the opportunity to host such as large county rugby tournament.”

Champions of the tournament were Japan aka Great Rissington Primary School and Powells Primary School from Cirencester, who were representing Fiji, took second place.

Cirencester Kingshill School organised the event as part of its role as a Host City Hub School for the RWC.

In recent months, pupils have been helping promote the tournament by holding workshops, and rugby events, as well as promoting the RWC within schools in the area.

As well as taking part in tournament, 60 CKS students, took on the role of young leaders, which saw them help organise the tournament.

“We are a great believer in opportunity. We want people to engage in sports, we are using this event as an opportunity to do it, not just players but also leaders and organisers,” said Mr Hamblin.

CKS is also part of the Youth Sport Trust’s Rugby Ambassador programme, a scheme which has tasked  pupils from the school  inform and excite their classmates about rugby and Rugby World Cup through assemblies and competitions.

Special guest at the event was Philippa Tuttiett, a Welsh rugby international, and ambassador at the YST.

She said: “It is one of the biggest tag rugby events I have been to. Fair play to the organisers, it has been run really well.”