A weekend of rugby for the Mini Chips
Minis at Chippenham RFC started 2024 with a weekend that showcased rugby in all its shapes and forms.
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Mini’s Chair Neal Craig said: “We have a close association with Bath and that enables teams like their U18s to use our AGP when their fixtures clash with the senior team’s games. We always try to encourage mini and juniors to come down to these fixtures so that there’s a really good atmosphere and the young players have the chance to watch the games as a community. We had around 30 of our minis involved in the guard of honour and they loved it!”
The next morning, despite the rain and flooding at the club, the minis’ training still went ahead although inside a sports hall at local Abbeyfield School.
Neal added: “We trained inside after an enormous effort from the coaches – we spent all morning ringing round local halls to find somewhere that could accommodate 110 children! We try to keep sessions on and move them inside when we need to.
“I know my sons would be climbing the walls if training was cancelled! It would be easy to give up and cancel training, but we’d rather make sure there is the opportunity for children to play and keep the continuity where possible.”
That afternoon, their rugby-filled weekend was rounded off by a trip to The Rec to see Chippenham’s former player and current U6s coach Tom Dunn play in Bath’s 17-10 victory over Gloucester.
“The kids had an awesome afternoon cheering on their heroes and did a lap of honour around the pitch at half time.”
By providing opportunities for their minis to play rugby, be part of their club community watching rugby at their club and then seeing a professional game, Chippenham hope to inspire their minis’ love of rugby and to keep them playing for many years to come.
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