🏉 T1 Match Day Blog – Yate RFC v Changing Social

Rugby Rose: Rob… I’m still smiling. That might have been the most Yate game of T1 we’ve ever played.

Rob: I knew it was going to be special the moment we decided to play one of our Academy sponsors. Honestly, what better way to say thank you to Changing Social than throwing them straight into a game of T1?

Rugby Rose: Exactly! They believe in what we’re doing at Yate Rugby, so naturally we thought: let’s make them run for 40 minutes. Community engagement at its finest.

Rob: And to be fair, they came prepared… well, sort of. We gave them a bit of help with Zak, Nevin, Sam, Riley, form the U16'2 and young Seb from the U14's, although let’s be honest, Seb was only there because Matt wanted to go head-to-head with his own son.

Rugby Rose: Youth v experience. Father v son. T1 drama already written. And then Changing Social quietly slipped in their “ringer” — Sam Cooper.

Rob: Ah yes… Mr “I haven’t played in years” Sam Cooper. Turns out he’s got a step, a pass, pace, and can call moves like he’s never left the game.

Rugby Rose: Classic. The plan from Changing Social was obvious speed everywhere. Youth on their side, plus Jade, Kelvin (Mr Goose Step himself), and Matt "The winger "Waller. It was set up perfectly.

Rob: And it delivered. The rugby was outstanding fast, flowing, and exactly what T1 should be. Fun first, fitness second, and laughing at each other a close third.

Rugby Rose: Speaking of laughs… Char being tackled by her own feet in a non-contact game might be my highlight.

Rob: Elite skill. Closely followed by Jade breaking out yoga poses every five minutes.

Rugby Rose: “Injury prevention,” she said.

Rob: “Showing off,” we replied.

Rugby Rose: And Nat… I’ve never known someone so obsessed with the clock. The constant “how long left?” followed by questioning the ref’s timekeeping was… something.

Rob: In fairness, the ref couldn’t tell the time.

Rugby Rose: Probably because Matt was the ref.

Rob: That explains a lot.

Rugby Rose: On the pitch though some proper rugby moments. Seb slicing through the line, setting up Nevin and the two Sam's. Riley drawing defenders in with power. Jade absolutely bossing the midfield… although Seb was maybe asking, no lets say it how it was demanding the ball a bit - wonder if he gets that competitiveness from his dad...

Rob: we will go with demanding call it how it is. For Yate, the pace was unreal — Callum and Danni flying, LV throwing in some steps, Char and Simon linking up nicely (when Char stayed upright), and Matt clearly enjoying putting his son under pressure.

Rugby Rose: Nathaniel and Scarlet were electric down the right, and we must mention Russ — the wily old fox — another outstanding game.

Rob: And then… the moment everyone was waiting for.

Rugby Rose: Last try wins.

Rob: And Matt finally wins a T1 game.

Rugby Rose: I’ve never seen a man so happy.

Rob: Not sure if it was the win… or the fact he could take the mickey out of Seb.

Rugby Rose: Which he did. A lot. Honestly amazed the ref didn’t overturn the result for excessive dad banter, but then Matt was the ref.

Rob: But what a game. Fun, competitive, full of laughs, and exactly why T1 is such a brilliant way to bring people into rugby.

Rugby Rose: Huge thank you to Changing Social — an amazing partner of the club and now officially part of the Yate rugby family.

Rob: Same time in the summer?

Rugby Rose: Absolutely. But maybe someone else refs next time… 😉

🏉 Under 7s Match Day Blog - Yate RFC U7s v Oldfield RFC

If you want a reminder of why rugby is brilliant, go and watch the Under 7s on a match day — and this one against Oldfield had everything.

The excitement was buzzing before kick-off. Playing in front of the stand, inside the athletics track, with loads of parents watching gave the kids an extra spring in their step. You could feel it straight away — big smiles, plenty of energy, and a real sense of occasion.

The standout moment for me was a proper team try. The group worked through the phases, combined beautifully, and finished it off with Molly crossing the line — a moment that summed up just how much these players are learning already.

What really impressed was that everyone stepped up. Every single player showed skills they’ve been grafting away at in training — setting their defensive line well, communicating clearly, and being ready to attack straight from restarts. For an Under 7s group, that’s huge progress.

There were also some brilliant moments of determination. Oldfield’s tag belts were not easy to grab, but instead of getting frustrated, Yate doubled down — working together, staying patient, and eventually getting those tags in. A great example of resilience at such a young age.

It was also a big day for several players playing their first-ever match, and they handled it brilliantly. Performing in a match environment can be a big step, but the progress on show was fantastic.

Huge credit to Oldfield as well — a determined, kind, and fun-loving group who played the game in exactly the right spirit. A great opposition and a great learning experience for everyone involved.

And finally, the atmosphere. Parents from both sides brought the noise, encouragement, and positivity, creating a brilliant environment that really spurred the players on. This is what grassroots rugby should look like.

Three words to sum it up?👉 Fun. Frantic. Wet.

Exactly how Under 7s rugby should be 💙💛

🏉 Under 9s Match Day Blog - Yate RFC U9s v Oldfield RFC

What a brilliant morning for the Yate Under 9s as they welcomed Oldfield to YOSC — and right from the off, this one felt like a big step forward.

The standout for me before a ball was even kicked? Squad size. This was the biggest group we’ve fielded all season, and that alone tells a story of progress. Even better was hearing the young leaders within the team encouraging, guiding, and backing up every single teammate — exactly what Yate Rugby is all about.

With the weather disrupting a lot of rugby recently, the build-up felt a little quieter than usual, but once the games got going, that quickly disappeared. By full time, you could see the smiles, muddy kit, and tired legs that only come from a proper shift — spirits were high all round.

Against a very well-organised Oldfield side, communication was a real strength for Yate. The players talked, helped each other, and showed what’s possible when they work as a team. There were several moments where Oldfield looked certain to score, but brilliant cover defence from Yate shut things down — massive moments that lifted everyone on the pitch.

A special mention has to go to Henry, who put together his most complete performance yet. We’ve seen glimpses of what he can do, but this week it all came together — an outstanding display.

It was also fantastic to see Hugo back in Yate colours after some time away. He slotted straight back in and showed real promise — a great first game back, with plenty more to come.

Oldfield deserve huge credit too. They travelled with a team full of attacking flair and serious hunger in defence, getting up quickly and closing down space. A great learning experience for this young Yate side and exactly the kind of challenge that helps players grow.

Looking ahead, the focus remains on the fundamentals, with controlled aggression in defence top of the list — but the foundations are clearly there.

Despite the cold weather and a last-minute pitch change, the touchline support was strong once again. Parents, carers, and supporters — thank you. Without you, there is no Yate Rugby Academy.

Three words to sum it up?👉 Pride. Progression. Togetherness.

Up the Yate 💙💛