Days like today are an opportunity for clubs, teams and individuals to display rugby’s famous TREDS values (Teamwork, Respect, Enjoyment, Discipline and Sportsmanship) and demonstrate what makes rugby a truly unique sport.
Whether you’re playing tag rugby on our Invesco turf with the U7s or enjoying unlimited numbers in the ruck with the U12s on our riverside pitches, I’d like to wish every team the very best of luck today.
I encourage coaches and parents to keep these values front of mind and support everyone in a positive and enthusiastic manner, including the referees who are volunteers like the rest of us.
It takes an enormous amount of effort to put on our festival and I want to thank all of our volunteers who have agreed to put in a shift. Whether you got here early to help set up or if you’ll be staying late to tidy away, your hard work and commitment is greatly appreciated.
Special thanks goes to everyone who joined the festival committee and helped organise the event. In particular Katie Starmer-Smith, Mark Davies, Hannah Oakley, Faith MacKinder, Dominic Day and George Jewell, who have all gone above and beyond the call of duty.
Thanks also to our visitors today for supporting our festival. Your entrance fee enables Henley RFC to host such a high-quality and safe event while your presence ensures the tournament atmosphere we all enjoy.
As a club we are fortunate to have a group of dedicated sponsors, many of whom are local businesses, and support us throughout the year. I want to offer them our gratitude and I encourage you to reward them with your patronage as this is what makes a community tick.
I hope everyone enjoys the festival today. Please cheer each other on, applaud the players loudly at every opportunity and recognise our TREDS values wherever you see them.
Henley Rugby Club is looking forward to welcoming you to Dry Leas for what promises to be another successful festival of mini rugby.
Our festival is an inclusive, player-centered event with the primary goal of our players having fun while promoting the RFU’s TREDS values.
Play will start at 10:00 sharp with games in all age groups.
We recommend that all players, coaches and spectators arrive in good time to set up their tents, warm up and be ready to play.
Our car parks will be open from 08:00, coffee and bacon sandwiches will be available from 08:30 and the coaches’ briefing will start at 09:30.
The last matches in all age groups are usually finished by 14:00 and the younger age groups have often finished by 13:00.
