As the curtains opened on this year’s Six Nations tournament, the Isle of Man’s Douglas Rugby Club travelled to Bristol for a weekend to remember. On a crisp sunny morning in the south-west, the under 13’s took part in a hotly-contested round-robin tournament, with Gordano and Clifton RFC also involved.
Prior to the tournament on Sunday morning, the boys were treated to hospitality tickets at the Bristol Bears vs Newcastle Falcons game. And just as they got comfortable in the so-called Heineken Lounge, they were called out for flag-bearing duties as mascots alongside the players – an experience they will all surely remember for a long time. To top off a jam-packed day, the team headed to our Bristol office to screen the Six Nations clash between England and Scotland, before crashing in the hotel down the road.
Off the back of a long-standing relationship with Douglas Rugby Club, Wilton were delighted to sponsor the weekend and, hopefully, inspire some young talent to progress further in the sport. The tournament took place on Clifton College’s hallowed grounds (the pitch was used for training sessions in the England squad’s 2019 World Cup preparations) with the help of former England international Danny Grewcock and Bristol rugby legend Matt Salter, both of whom are coaches at the school.
As Matt Salter later said, ‘weekends like this can only promote junior rugby across the UK, encouraging more and more youngsters to take up the sport, and is further proof that the future of rugby is in good hands’. Or better still, safe hands. Well done to all involved and thank you to Clifton College for opening your doors to Douglas.