Our Rugby players joined fellow players from The College of Rugby and Blackpool Sixth Form at Aldwinians Rugby Club last week to take part in a rugby festival set up to encourage young people to take part in the sport.

The event was set up in partnership with Sale Sharks with the aim of giving players the opportunity to play competitive rugby against other colleges and develop as players. 

Staff and students at Ashton are very grateful of the partnership with Sale Sharks:

"We're proud to be partnering with Sale Sharks, allowing us to provide high-level rugby coaching in our curriculum and enrichment. The partnership ensures we have the best provision possible at college, for students to join a rugby team, compete at all levels and be coached by ex-players.

To be able to bring together teams from colleges across the country was important to us not only for students to be able to compete but to celebrate the sport too.

Thank you to all who got involve and to Mark and Sale Sharks for organising it."

Graham Saffery, Head of Sport and Public Services at Ashton.

Mark Irvine from Sale Sharks added:

"Over the last few months I have been working with an amazing group of rugby players, who have worked hard on developing their rugby skills and knowledge. We have played a handful of fixtures and we have improved every time as a team and as individuals. Today was an opportunity to show everyone all the hard work we have been doing and I was proud of everyone who played at the event and the players supporting on the sideline."

Our Rugby team look forward to future games and continue to with Sale Sharks.

Sale Sharks Rugby festival