Rugby Rob on Tour – Yate, Whitehall & Quins U14s

by Rugby Rob

I was very blessed to be invited on the Under 14s tour as part of the Whitehall Youth & Mini tour… and let me tell you, this was about so much more than rugby.

Tour isn’t just about turning up somewhere new and playing a couple of games. It’s about the team. It’s about the laughs, the bonding, the shared moments (and yes… the occasional joke at the coaches’ expense). Watching this group of lads over the weekend really hit home what rugby is all about.

There’s a lot said negatively about young people these days, but not with this group. These lads come from all over Bristol, different schools, different backgrounds—Brimsham, Yate Academy, Chipping Sodbury, Oasis, Hanham, Cabot… and yet when they pull on that shirt, they are one team. They play for each other. They look after each other. And on this tour, you could see friendships being built that will last far beyond school or rugby.

As Mat Iles said best, it was a “pleasure to have you all on tour—well behaved, had fun, and led by example.” And honestly, that sums it up perfectly.

And what makes it even better? This team keeps growing. Five new players joining recently, all welcomed straight in that tells you everything about the culture being built here.

Now… onto the rugby.

Two games, two wins:

• Launceston – 26-5

• Wadebridge – 26-0

But don’t let those scorelines fool you—these were proper contests.

What stood out? The way this team plays. Smart, direct, and always looking for space. The forwards were immense; Jacob carrying like a machine all weekend, Charlie relentless at the breakdown, and the pod work was just constant pressure. That platform allowed the backs to really shine.

Seb was pulling the strings, moving the ball wide, and when it did go wide wow. Jack O’s pace caused chaos, with “Jack Whitehall” (still not his real name…) equally sharp across the backfield. Xander was everywhere, chasing everything and grabbing two crucial tries.

In the middle, Reniko led exactly how you’d want a captain to—quiet, composed, but leading every charge, making tackles, breaking lines, and supporting everything. No surprise the opposition voted him Player of the Tournament.

Defensively, the work from Lyden and Lucas Iles kept things steady, while Tate in the centre was hitting anything that moved.

And then… one of the moments of the tour. Lucas C pulling on a Launceston shirt to help them out against Wadebridge. That right there that’s what grassroots rugby is about. Not the score. Not the badge. The game, the people, the experience. Proud moment for everyone watching.

Two brilliant games, but more importantly, an incredible tour.

What a team. What a group. What a season it’s been.

We’re nearly at the end now… let’s see how these lads finish it off. 💙💛

Awards of the Tour Matched

Forward of the Match: Jacob — outstanding carries, always looking for those extra metre.

Back of the Match: Xander— What a performance, played multiple positions but those 2 trys were from the training ground right to the pitch.

Team Player Award (Captain’s Vote – The “Hype Man”): Tate— Positive mind set today, led by example, tackled, tackled and tackled some more, and some great runs

Away team player of the match: Our Captain Reniko - for his outstanding plays line breaks and effort in defence

🏉 Match Day Blog – Yate U14s v North Bristol (Development Game)

By Rugby Riley

Sometimes a game of rugby isn’t about the score line. Sometimes it’s about learning, growing, and helping the game thrive. That was exactly what this weekend’s Under 14s development fixture against North Bristol was all about.

North Bristol are still early in their journey as a team, having only been together around 12 months, and out clubs of Yate, Whitehall & Quinns we’re always keen to support clubs building their programmes. The more teams developing young players, the stronger the game becomes, so we were more than happy to host them at Yate.

And what followed was four quarters of proper grassroots rugby.

This match was also a great opportunity for Yate to give five new players as much game time as possible. Seeing them step onto the pitch for their first match was easily the standout moment of the day. Even better was watching them apply what they’d been learning in training — tackles going in, offloads sticking, players running hard and getting involved in the ruck.

For players at the start of their rugby journey, that kind of progress is exactly what you want to see.

The team knew going in that this was a development-focused game, so the aim was simple: learn as much as possible. It took a little time for the lads to get warmed up and settle into the rhythm of the game, but once they did, the rugby started to flow nicely.

We also took the opportunity to experiment with players in different positions. It’s a brilliant way for young players to understand the game better — not just learning a new role, but also seeing their usual position from a different perspective and thinking about how they can improve.

There were some standout individual moments too. Joe and Lucas C both produced excellent runs, showing real pace and attacking intent. Those bursts of speed caught the eye and hopefully we’ll be seeing plenty more of that as the season goes on.

Another big positive was Skinner’s ball carrying, which was powerful and confident throughout the game — the kind of performance that really helps build belief in a player’s own abilities.

Perhaps the most impressive thing though was the attitude of the team. Even with players moving into unfamiliar roles, the group managed themselves brilliantly. There was a clear desire to improve, support each other, and make the most of the opportunity to learn. That kind of mindset shows real growth.

Looking ahead, there are always areas to keep developing. Ball movement is something the team will continue to focus on — it’s improving every week, but we know there’s even more to come.

As for the new players, they should be incredibly proud. All five carried themselves brilliantly and slotted into the side so naturally that you’d never guess it was their first match. They’ve already found a place in this team.

A huge thank you to North Bristol for making the trip to Yate and for playing the game in exactly the right spirit. Matches like this are what grassroots rugby is all about — development, respect, and giving young players the chance to grow.

So how do we sum up the day?

Learning. Learning. Learning. 💙💛🏉

Awards of the Match

Forward of the Match: Skinner— outstanding carries, positioning was great, positive play and really drove the pack.

Back of the Match: Diandrew — First game and what a performance, tackled, rucked, ran, what a great start to his Rugby life...

Team Player Award (Captain’s Vote – The “Hype Man”): Xander— Positive mind set today, hype the team up before the match with a great speak, and kept there energy up during the game...

🏉 Match Day Report – Yate 22 v Ashley Down 19, Cup Match

By Sideline Sam

If you like your rugby calm, comfortable and predictable… this was not the game for you.

On a day that had the side-lines buzzing, Yate and Ashley Down served up a match packed with momentum swings, big moments and a finish that had everyone holding their breath until the final whistle.

Yate got the game rolling in the 8th minute, patiently working the ball side to side deep in Ashley’s half. After stretching the defence again and again, the breakthrough finally came as Yate’s No.1 powered through two defenders to crash over and open the scoring. The conversion followed to make it the perfect start.

Ashley Down, however, had other ideas.

From a scrum close to the Yate line, they moved the ball wide with speed and precision, finding just enough space to level the scores. With the conversion added, the game was suddenly all square.

But the drama didn’t stop there.

Almost straight from the restart, Yate were handed an opportunity when the referee awarded a penalty, and the kick sailed through the posts to restore Yate’s lead. A slim advantage… and one that didn’t last long.

Ashley Down responded again, forcing their way through a crowded try line after a determined drive. The conversion was successful and Ashley edged ahead 14–10 going into half-time, setting up a big second half.

And Yate came out for it fired up.

Within moments of the restart, Yate produced a moment of magic, skipping past two defenders and bursting through for a brilliant solo try to swing the momentum back Yate’s way. The conversion followed, and suddenly Yate were back in front.

Not long after, the pressure told again. Yate received the ball out wide and showed blistering pace to outrun the Ashley defence and cross for another score. The conversion didn’t quite find its mark, but Yate had built a valuable cushion.

Still, Ashley Down refused to go quietly.

They powered over once more, muscling through the defence to score and converting to pull themselves right back within touching distance.

The final stages were tense. Ashley pressed hard, throwing everything at Yate’s line, but the home side held firm. Strong defence and smart territorial play kept the pressure in Ashley’s half, allowing Yate to manage the closing minutes and secure the win.

When the final whistle blew, the scoreboard read:

Yate 22 – Ashley Down 19

A narrow victory, hard fought and well earned — the kind of game that reminds everyone watching exactly why we love rugby.

Three words?

Tense. Physical. Brilliant. 💙💛🏉