February 22, 2006
England's rising star Harry Ellis has joined the supporters of this season's Daily Telegraph Emerging Schools rugby tournament which also sees the inclusion of a new under-14 competition for girls to reflect the explosion of interest in the women's game.
More than 2,900 teams took part in the world's biggest youth rugby competition last season with Testbourne School from Hampshire and Marlwood from Gloucester lifting the Under-12 and Under-13 titles at Twickenham.
And Leicester scrum-half Ellis hopes this year’s expanded 10-a-side tournament will continue to increase the numbers of boys and girls taking up the game.
"It's important that young people are given the opportunity to play rugby, whatever school they attend, and I fully support the Emerging Schools programme," said Ellis.
"I was fortunate enough to attend a rugby playing school and we need more playing this great game, so it's great to hear that the tournament is even bigger this season.
"The chance to play at Twickenham is a fantastic one and I hope it inspires some of the youngsters in this competition."
Another new schools’ category is for state schools who do not have rugby on the curriculum, while the ‘emerged schools’ category is for those who play less than eight organised fixtures in a term.
The changes mean that this year more than 60,000 children competing for the chance to play at the home of the World Champions on May 6.
More than a hundred tournaments are taking place from Cumbria to Cornwall. The winners then take part in regional festivals to produce 50 teams to take part on the national finals day in London.
Group stages at Staines RFC decide the 10 teams that go forward to Twickenham for the five finals played in front of a 40,000 crowd at the at the annual Army vs Navy game.
This season’s Daily Telegraph Emerging Schools categories
New schools Under-13 competition
New schools Under-12 competition
Emerged schools Under-13 competition
Emerged schools Under-12 competition
Girls Under-14 competition
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