ENGLAND No.10 Ceri Large and Gloucester legend Terry Fanolua were on hand when the Women’s Rugby World Cup, won by England in August, came to Cirencester RFC for a few hours on Thursday.

The visit coincided with the finals of the Stroud & District Girls’ Year 7 and Year 8 schools’ rugby tournament held at the club.

Large and Fanolua, who has now taken on the role of community rugby development manager for Gloucester, were on hand to present the girls' prizes.

Ceri, 24, who plays for Worcester and has 27 England caps to her name, first got into rugby at her local Drybrook RFC club in the Forest of Dean.

Six schools were represented at the festival with more than half the girls having never played touch rugby before last month.

Congratulations to Katharine Lady Berkeley’s of Wotton-under-Edge who will now progress to the county finals to be held at Kingsholm. Runners-up were Deer Park and third were Kingshill, both from Cirencester.

RFU community rugby coach Dave Barley, along with Cirencester women’s & girls’ coach Rez Aminnia and Fanolua have been going into these schools and delivering six-week sessions as this fast-growing area of the sport continues to develop.

“Girls’ rugby is growing very quickly with clubs and schools needing to respond to the demand,” said Barley.

Aminnia, who is also Gloucestershire RFU communications chairman, added: “We would love to see it on the national curriculum.

“Girls’ touch rugby is a great way to stay fit and be with your friends”

The festival was such a huge success that another one is already being planned.

As one of the winning Katharine Lady Berkeley’s team said: “This is my best day at school so far.”