The year 7 & 8 Rugby Union team had their first taste of competitive fixtures this past week in a very well attended festival held at Aston Old Edwardians Rugby Football Club. The day started off with students, from a number of schools, being coached by the regional RFU coaches in a number of key areas of the game, for instance, scrums and tackling. The second half of the day students play ten a-side matches against other schools. In what would be for most their first ever match, the Handsworth Grammar team played with passion and perseverance. The first match started off with the opponents scoring two early tries before the Handsworth team even had a chance to settle in. Once the initial nerves were out the way the year 7 & 8 combined team began playing good rugby and it was the forwards who started the momentum shift, winning opposition scrums and being the first to the break down. The hard work of the forwards gave the backs a brilliant platform to launch their attacks and soon scrum half Will Smith made a fantastic premeditated pass out to winger Adan George who sprinted past the defence and scored. Unfortunately, soon after the full time whistle had gone and the year 7 & 8 team lost their opener 2 tries to 1. In their following matches the Handsworth team continued to improve game on game and after a few substitutions and positional changes from Mr Rupal & Mr Nicholls, the team had the makings of a winning formula. All the players who played on the day were a fantastic credit to the school and all were urged by members of the RFU coaching staff and other rugby players to continue playing inside and outside of school. If anyone who would like to play rugby for the school or at a local club or just learn how to play a new sport (no matter what level of experience you have) are urged to speak to Mr Nicholls or Mr Rupal.

Top (from Left to Right): Mr Nicholls, Adan George, Oliver Timothy, Will Smith, Reuel Davis-Watts, Ivan Stanjanovic, Harjanpreet Bhopal, Camara Talbert, Harry Simpson

Bottom (from Left to Right): Hassan Raza, Nadeem Zaman, Kishan Gill, Max Jevons, Prumjot Soor, Sharyar Muhammed, Justin Fletcher

Year 7 recently came third out of over ten schools in a Birmingham 5 a side competition.

Year 9 beat Heartlands 4 – 1 in the Birmingham Cup which places them in the last sixteen.

Well done to both teams.