From Strangers to Brothers: How Three Clubs United to Create Something Special in Bristol Youth Rugby 🏉

If you ever need proof that rugby is more than just a game, look no further than this team.

Last weekend, our newly formed Under-13s squad entered their very first 7s tournament—and what a moment it was. After a long season of hard work, combining three clubs—Whitehall RFC, Bristol Harlequins, and Yate RFC—this was more than just a team taking to the field. This was the result of months of collaboration, learning, trust, and belief.

We don’t count wins at this age group but let me tell you something: they performed brilliantly. Way beyond expectations. And what made it even more impressive? They’d only had two training sessions specifically focused on 7s. Yet they played with confidence, skill, unity, and above all, the true spirit of rugby. Coaches and parents alike were blown away—not just by the way they played, but by the way they played for each other.

But let me rewind and explain why this group is so special.

This time last year, most of these lads didn’t even know each other. They wouldn’t have crossed paths, let alone become teammates. But with playing numbers dropping across the grassroots game, we—the coaches and clubs—chose a different path. We put aside the tribalism, the old-school “our club, our badge” mentality, and instead asked ourselves: What’s best for the kids? The answer was clear—come together. And we did.

Week after week, these boys have trained hard, laughed harder, and developed bonds that are now unbreakable. Through new training schedules, more matches, and increased challenges, they’ve risen. What’s inspired us as coaches most isn’t the results (although we’re seriously proud of those too), it’s the character of this group.

They help each other. They coach each other. We’ve even introduced peer coaching—where players take turns leading, guiding, and lifting each other. And you know what? They've embraced it like seasoned pros. These aren’t execs in a boardroom—these are 12 and 13-year-old boys, showing leadership, empathy, and resilience. In a world quick to criticise youth for being glued to screens, these lads are proving what sport—what rugby—can still achieve.

They’ve gone from three under-resourced clubs to becoming a serious force in youth rugby across Bristol. And while we’re proud of what we’ve done so far, we know this is just the beginning.

So to our players: thank you. Thank you for trusting the process, for trusting each other, and for showing us adults what’s possible when we lead with open hearts and a shared purpose. You are everything this sport stands for.

Here’s to next season, boys. Keep growing, keep learning, and never stop playing for each other. 💙🏉