Sunday, 19th October, was a landmark day for grassroots rugby at Crawley RFC, as we proudly hosted our annual October Minis Festival. This year, focusing on the Under 7s, Under 8s, and Under 9s, the event proved to be our biggest yet, with a staggering 75 teams descending on the club!

Teams travelled from every corner of Sussex—from Hastings and Horsham to Worthing and Crowborough—to take part. Almost every club with a Minis section was represented, often with multiple sides in each age group. The sheer volume of teams that turned up on the day confirms our belief that this was the largest October Minis festival Crawley RFC has ever staged. It’s a huge vote of confidence in our club and the vibrant Minis rugby scene across the county.

Despite a mid-week wobble in the weather forecast, the rugby gods smiled on us, and the rain held off long enough for the majority of the games to be completed. Even when the inevitable showers arrived, the quality of the rugby and the spirit of the players remained high. We’ve been thrilled to receive lots of positive feedback from visiting clubs, confirming that all the young players enjoyed a fantastic day of competitive, friendly rugby.

The Crawley RFC Minis teams gave a fantastic account of themselves, too, with two teams representing us in each of the three age groups. The hard work put in during summer and September training sessions really paid off. We even had one enthusiastic Under 7s player claiming a personal haul of tries—a testament to the exciting, fast-paced rugby on show!

A huge thank you must go to Chris Jones, Chair of Mini Rugby and Festival Organiser, and the whole army of volunteers, coaches, and parents who made the day run so smoothly. Meanwhile, a shout-out also goes to our Under 10s and Under 11s, who represented Crawley brilliantly at the parallel festival hosted by Eastbourne RFC.

These large festivals simply don't happen without the dedication of our community. If you enjoyed the atmosphere and want to be part of the action, come watch our next Minis training session or match day! We’re always looking for new players, coaches, and helpers to join the family.