Malcolm Phillips, the new RFU president, gave his support to the Child Victims of Crime Schools Tag Rugby Tournament at Rugby School today.
The former England and Fylde centre attended the tournament, the largest Tag Rugby tournament in England, in his first official function since he was elected president at last Sunday's RFU annual meeting in London. Phillips was accompanied by Robert Horner, his predecessor as president.
The tournament finals day involved 30 schools and more than 300 ten and eleven year-olds from across the country in the culmination of an expanding tournament which featured more than 500 primary schools in local and regional qualifying tournaments.
Tag rugby is a non-contact version of the sport which can be played by boys and girls and which Phillips believes has an important part to play in developing rugby in England.
"Events such as this are very important because Tag Rugby helps to introduce rugby to youngsters who would not normally experience the sport," Phillips said.
"We are very keen to widen the base of people playing rugby. The perception that rugby is predominantly a middle-class sport is changing and the RFU is doing a lot of work to include as many players from all backgrounds as possible.
"This competition gives youngsters who are relatively knew to rugby the chance to play on The Close here at Rugby School which is the birthplace of rugby and the home of the game, and that makes the Child Victims of Crime tournament a very special event."
Child Victims of Crime is the charity of the British Police Rugby section and it aims to enhance the lives of youngsters who have been affected by crime by offering material support to help them overcome the trauma they have suffered. Projects include offering access to counselling services, family and activity holidays plus individual awards of computers, televisions and bicycles.
The charity has raised more than £2.5 million over the last ten years and provided support to more than 1,700 victims and their families.
"All credit to the police for the great work they have done with the charity," Phillips said. "We are delighted to be associated with the British Police in this initiative."
The Webb Ellis Cup, the Rugby World Cup trophy, was also on display on The Close during the tournament finals day, the second time this season the trophy has visited Rugby School in two months.
Patrick Derham, the headmaster of Rugby School, said: "We are delighted to be hosting this event because it is such a wonderful occasion. the tournament has been going for three years, we have staged each of the finals days and the competition grows in size and popularity each year.
"To have the Webb Ellis Cup here for the second time is great honour but we are very aware how important the school is in the heritage of the game and we are always trying to bring events such as this to the school."
St Michaels School from Lichfield retained the trophy beating Trewirgie School from Redruth eight tries to four in an entertaining final which typified the skill, commitment and enjoyment of the festival.
Battyeford School from Mirfield in West Yorkshire won the Fair Play Award voted for by the tournament referees on the basis of team-work, good conduct and sportsmanship.
The final was refereed by Dave Addleton, the first team hooker of National One club Coventry. Addleton was accompanied by a number of his club-mates including former England Under-21 lock Ben Gulliver.
Empingham School from Rutland had the benefit of coaching from Luca Galimbertiof the Italian Rugby Federation and Fabrizio Nolli, Gianni Baraldi and Antonio Zanichelli of Italian Premier Division club Viadana.
They are all in England as part of a coching exchange between Leicestershire and the Lombardia region of Italy.
