London development staff celebrating the start of the RWC 2003 and the student rugby season joined forces to organise a freshers’ 10s tournament at the Old Albanians Rugby Club in St Albans. London North and South ran the event, with RUSLOs organising the 10s competition and RDOs a fun tag competition for newcomers interested in the game.

Male and female teams from higher and further education establishments in the region entered along with other guest sides, with the University of Kent and Loughborough students contesting the final, won eventually by Loughborough. The women’s teams played in a league, which was won by Richmond upon Thames College.

Competition organiser Keith Green said, “It was a great day which we would hope to expand in the future. We had more than 20 teams enjoying a full day’s rugby. As a group, the region’s RUSLOs decided we wanted to work closer together as a team and co-ordinate the 16 to 24 programme across the whole region. We will certainly be holding more of these festivals.”