🏉 Match Day Blog – Yate U9s at the Frampton Tournament

By Try-Line Tilly

Oh wow… what a morning of rugby this was! The Frampton Tournament had everything — sunshine, smiles, loads of rugby, and six matches for our brilliant Yate Under 9s. Yes, six! Safe to say it was a busy one… but this team absolutely loved every minute of it.

Right from the start the players arrived buzzing with excitement, ready to get stuck in. And after six action-packed games, the mood at full-time was even better — tired legs for sure, but huge smiles and a real sense of pride in what they had achieved together.

There were so many brilliant moments across the festival it was hard to pick just one. The team really started to string together phases of play, turning strong running and great teamwork into some fantastic tries.

Charlie showed electric pace throughout the morning, racing away to score some brilliant tries, while Mylo powered through defenders time and time again with some seriously strong running. But the moment that really got the crowd going came from Harvey — spotting a gap, running a perfectly straight line through the defence and then switching on the afterburners to finish the try himself. The applause from the sidelines said it all!

Across the team there were standout performances everywhere. Henry made some superb cover tackles to stop opposition breaks, while Arne was relentless in defence, constantly putting pressure on the opposition and refusing to give them an easy run.

And then there was Harry, who simply seemed to be everywhere. Attack, defence, support play — he kept popping up again and again, showing what a fantastic athlete he is and just how sharp his rugby brain can be.

What really impressed me though was the team spirit. Every player supported each other, worked hard in defence, and attacked with confidence. With five subs rotating through the games, the encouragement from the players on the touchline was just as strong as the effort from those on the pitch. It really felt like the most complete performance we’ve seen from this exciting young team.

There’s always more to learn of course. As the players keep developing, the focus will be on positioning, passing and supporting each other even more in attack — but with the effort shown today, those improvements will come quickly.

It was also brilliant to see players continuing to grow in confidence. Quentin, Elijah, Noah and Evie all showed great development throughout the matches, while Franklin and Jake proved that in rugby determination beats size every time, taking on bigger opponents with real grit and effort.

A big mention too for the opposition teams. Every side played with great enthusiasm and sportsmanship, making the games competitive, fun and full of energy.

And finally, the sidelines. The parents and supporters were fantastic all morning, cheering every run, tackle and try. That kind of encouragement really helps keep the players going — especially across six games!

So how do we sum up the day?

Best. Performance. Ever.

What a morning for the Yate Under 9s — exciting rugby, brilliant teamwork, and a team that just keeps getting better every week. 💙💛🏉

🏉 Match Day Blog – Yate U10s at the Frampton Tournament

by ClubHouse Connor

Some days at rugby are about results… and some days are about heart, teamwork, and pure determination. The Frampton Tournament was definitely one of those days — and our Under 10s showed exactly what Yate rugby is all about.

Four matches. Back to back. No substitutes. And still this young side delivered an outstanding performance from the very first warm-up right through to the final whistle.

What impressed me most was how the team stuck together throughout the day. By the fourth game you could see the legs getting heavy and the players starting to feel the effort — but the grit and determination never dropped. In fact, if anything, they dug in even deeper.

One of my favourite moments came from Hudson, who put into action exactly what he’d worked on in Wednesday night training. A perfect tackle, right technique, timed beautifully. As he got up he looked straight to the coaches and side line and shouted, “I did it!” — and honestly, that moment summed up everything youth rugby should be about.

Across the pitch there were standout performances everywhere. Ollie and Harry once again set the standard with their speed, leadership, and work rate. Week after week they lead by example, and the rest of the team follows that energy.

In the middle of the action Oscar, Lewis, and Logan were putting in some fantastic tackles and strong work at the ruck, while Niamh showed brilliant growth by stepping confidently into the breakdown and getting involved — a huge step forward.

The challenge of the day wasn’t just the opposition — it was the schedule. Four games on the bounce, with only a short break before the final match, meant managing energy was crucial. Somehow this group balanced effort, focus, and determination brilliantly throughout.

And let’s not forget — Yate were the only team playing without substitutes. While other teams rotated fresh legs, our players stayed out there every minute, showing real resilience and commitment to each other.

Every side we faced came ready to compete, and each game provided a new challenge. But the Yate players met every one of them head-on.

Of course, like all good teams, they’re already thinking about how to get even better. Being a little more vocal during games and trusting each other to hold formation will help this group take the next step forward.

Finally, a big shoutout to the supporters. The side lines were packed with encouragement, smiles, and the usual Yate family spirit — all while supporting a fantastic cause at the tournament.

Days like this are what grassroots rugby is all about.

Four games. One team. Endless effort.

Up The Yate! 💙💛🏉

🏉 T1 Match Day Blog – Yate v Whitehall (Valkyries Launch Day)

Rugby Rose: Rob… I’ve got to say it straight away — what a day. New women’s and girls’ team the Valkyries, brand new female changing rooms, sunshine\Rain, rugby… and then someone says “shall we have a game of T1?”.

Rugby Rob: Exactly. First off, massive thank you to Whitehall for inviting us down for their launch. It was a real honour to be part of it — and what better way to celebrate than by throwing a bunch of slightly out-of-breath rugby lovers onto one of the biggest pitches in Bristol.

Rugby Rose: And not just any game… 12 a side on that pitch. I remember looking across it thinking “that’s a lot of grass and not enough lungs.”

Rugby Rob: Especially when Whitehall casually rocked up with about 20 players, and Yate turned up with 14 and a lot of optimism.

Rugby Rose: To be fair though, big shout out to Xander and Linden who jumped across to help their U14 coach from Yate — absolute legends. And speaking of youth… the link-up play between the U14s, including Seb, was unreal - so proud of those boys...

Rugby Rob: The kids made us look slow.

Rugby Rose: We are slow, Rob.

Rugby Rob: Fair point.

Rugby Rose: One player who definitely wasn’t slow though — Scarlet on the wing. Absolute rockets down the touchline all afternoon.

Rugby Rob: Meanwhile in the midfield you had the “experienced campaigners”… Matt, Chris and Russ controlling things like the wily old foxes they are.

Rugby Rose: “Wily old foxes” is a polite way of saying they were standing in the middle trying not to run too far.

Rugby Rob: Game management, Rose. Game management.

Rugby Rose: And we can’t forget Jade, who basically became the side line gaffer aka the boss. Running the subs, shouting instructions, organising everything… I’m pretty sure she ran more from the side-line than some players did on the pitch. Jade was incredible on the pitch as well, bossing that left wing...Jade had a bossy day...

Ruby Rob: Passionate day

Ruby Rose: yeah that's the word....passionate...

Rugby Rob: Meanwhile on the field Leigh, Simon and Becci were making some incredible breaks. The ball was moving beautifully side to side, defensive lines were solid, and there were turnovers everywhere.

Rugby Rose: Honestly, the rugby was brilliant. But what made it special was the laughter. Players laughing, side-lines laughing, people chasing tackles and occasionally just chasing each other.

Rugby Rob: That’s what I love about T1 rugby. It’s like going back to being kids again — jumpers for goalposts, just playing because it’s fun.

Rugby Rose: Huge credit to Whitehall though — they were fantastic. Fizzy and Ricki kept the energy high the whole game. Non-stop smiles, jokes flying everywhere, and some cracking rugby to go with it.

Rugby Rob: But as we all know in T1… last try wins.

Rugby Rose: And this time… it was Yate.

Rugby Rob: An unbelievable intercept from Chris, who somehow appeared out of nowhere like a touch-rugby ninja, and suddenly we’re running in the final score.

Rugby Rose: Cue celebrations… mild celebrations… mostly heavy breathing.

Rugby Rob: But the real win came afterwards — everyone back in the bar. Smiles, stories, laughter, and a lot of “I definitely should have passed that”.

Rugby Rose: Exactly. The result? Totally irrelevant.

Rugby Rob: The fun of the game? That’s everything.

Rugby Rose: Massive congratulations again to Whitehall on launching the Valkyries and the new changing rooms. What a brilliant step for women’s rugby.

Rugby Rob: And don’t worry Whitehall…

Rugby Rose: Next time…

Both: You’re coming to Yate. 🏉💙💛