By Richard Sykes
Huddersfield RUFC Under 10s will be playing at Welford Road prior to the Gallagher Premiership game between Leicester Tigers and Saracens on March 29 2025.
The youngsters earned the honour having entered the Tigers’ annual Under 10 Tournament.
The Huddersfield team won through as one of the best eight from over 80 entrants and were the only team from outside the Midlands to compete in the event.
Stafford RUFC’s Blackberry Lane ground was one of four venues to host the preliminary matches and Huddersfield finished as the top team from there on the qualifying day.
They will now compete for the Tigers’ Fenton Bowl against the best teams from the other venues.
After the games at Stafford, Under 10s’ head coach Jonathan Grafton expressed delight for his young players and said: “We got told by a couple of the other coaches that we were the best team they have seen – and one of the refs said our play was ‘outrageous.’
“It was a trek down to Stafford which was made possible by the support of the parents. I can’t thank them enough.
“I’m a believer in creating adversity for the kids so they can overcome it and learn how to cope when things aren’t perfect and going their way.
“We made a 180-mile round trip and played teams we had never played before. Pushing the boundaries and creating experiences like this helps them develop not just as rugby players but also as the amazing children they are.
“I couldn’t be more proud of them.”
