The summer break is officially over, the boots are back on and youth rugby has returned to Ballards Ash!
While our senior teams are still waiting patiently for their competitive season to begin, our Minis, Juniors, Colts and Ravens wasted no time getting stuck in on Sunday. New season, fresh faces and plenty of rugby — it’s good to be back!
Under 7s | Aubrey
Under 7s player of the week this week is Aubrey. Aubrey fired into the first session back from the summer break.
She gave 110% the whole session and supported her teammates well in the match. She also tackled well in the 1v1’s.
Under 8s | Nico
The Under 8s made a lively return to training after the summer break, throwing themselves straight into drills and games.
We were pleased to welcome two new players, who joined in confidently and added great enthusiasm to the group.
Nico stood out this week, earning Coaches’ Player of the Week thanks to his excellent listening, quick reactions, and willingness to act on coaching advice. A great start to the Season!
Under 9s | Squad
It was a welcome return to rugby for the under 9s today. There was no contact due to the hard pitches after the heatwave summer but that didn’t dim the enthusiasm. As well as reiterating the core rugby skills, the session also covered the rules for Under 9s, such as passing the ball from the ground when tackled.
Because all the children did so well, attacking with intent and working hard in defence, the whole team were player of the week this week.
Under 10s | Charlie & Will
Rucker of the week was Charlie, who showed great technique during his first introduction to rucking in the drills.
Will was our player of the week, who has only just returned to playing and demonstrated a great attitude and some nice handling skills throughout the session.
Well done lads 👍
Under 11s | Owen & William
A massive well done to Owen, our Player of the Week!
Owen joined us at Royal Wootton Bassett for his very first rugby session. He was understandably a little shy to begin with, but it didn’t take him long to get stuck in and become part of the group. He showed some really good handling and passing skills, and the coaches were particularly impressed with his drop-kicking before the session had even started! 👏
During our kick-off work, Owen had a few really good runs with the ball and grew in confidence as the session went on.
A fantastic first session, Owen. Welcome to the team and very well deserved!
This week’s Teammate of the Week goes to William!
We had two new boys joining us, and William did a brilliant job of welcoming them, helping them settle in and encouraging them throughout the session. That’s exactly what being a good teammate is about and a great example of the rugby values we want to see in our group.
Great leadership and sportsmanship, William. Well done mate!
Under 12s | Gabriel, George & Corbyn
Tackler of the Week – Gabriel
Gabriel made a brilliant impact in his first ever session. He showed real tenacity in defence, stepping into tackles with confidence and excellent technique. For a newcomer to commit like that straight away is outstanding. A huge well‑done to Gabriel.
Team Player of the Week – George
George is new to the team but already plays like he’s been part of the squad for years. teamwork, and willingness to learn stood out across every station. He works hard, supports teammates, and is always looking to improve. A great example of what a team player should be.
Coaches’ Player of the Week – Corbyn
Corbyn continues to impress with his technical ability in both defence and attack. His understanding of the game is growing every week, and he consistently applies good habits in live play. A deserved Coaches’ Player of the Week for his all‑round contribution.
Under 13s | Lincoln
Player of the week this week goes to Lincoln who demonstrated excellent work rate, listened hard and progressed really well throughout the training session.
Great work Lincoln, keep it up!
Colts | Guy
Bassett Colts kicked off their season with an impressive 31-26 win against Gordano, fielding a squad of 29 players made up of both U17 and U18 age groups.
Following a pre-season affected by Hot weather and RFU restrictions, it took a little time for the players to readjust to full contact and tackling. However, it wasn't long before the squad returned to its old habits, putting in some strong, committed defensive work across the pitch.
This fixture provided the players with their first opportunity to put their game plan and newly developed skills into practice under match pressure, and they responded superbly. While a few unforced errors halted momentum at times, the intent, effort and ambition shown throughout the game were excellent. Overall, it was a well-contested match, with both clubs making numerous changes to ensure every player had valuable game time.
Player of the Match was Guy. Having spent part of the early pre-season training with the senior squad, Guy looked to have benefited greatly from the experience. He produced an outstanding all-round performance, carrying strongly, tackling effectively and communicating well throughout the game. His leadership and encouragement helped bring the best out of those around him and made him a worthy recipient of the award.
A strong start to the season and plenty of positives for the Colts to build on in the weeks ahead.
New Players Welcome!
Thinking about giving rugby a try? Our Minis and Juniors will be training at Ballards Ash next Sunday and the following Sunday, and we’d love to welcome new players along to join in. There’s no need to commit straight away — new players can enjoy four weeks of training completely free before deciding whether to join the club.
So, if you’ve got a budding rugby player at home, why not bring them along and give it a go?
