The next generation of rugby players graced the same turf as the current crop in the finals of the Year Five and Six Bradford Schools' Tag Rugby finals at Odsal Stadium.

The 16 teams all came through the local School Sports Partnership finals, with Russell Hall Primary School of Queensbury winning the event after the round-robin tournament in the afternoon.

Russell Hall’s triumph adds to the previous success of their tag rugby team, who won the all-Bradford Championship in 2005, 2006 and 2007 and the Carnegie Challenge Shield in 2008.

Neil Spence, the Rugby Football Union’s National Tag Development Officer, who co-ordinated the day, said the competition serves as a useful introduction to the sport for youngsters.

“All the teams were pleased to play on the hallowed turf of Odsal. It’s a good way for boys and girls to play rugby in a safe environment and practice a number of skills.”

The winning school now advances to the Yorkshire tournament, with a potential match at Twickenham to come in the national final, and Spence says the possibility of playing at the home of English rugby is a great incentive for everyone involved. “We’ve always had a Bradford finals, but we’ve made it a smaller and more prestigious event. The regional winners go through to the Yorkshire final, with the winner there going on to the national final, which is played at Twickenham before the England v Wales game on August 6.

“The pathway leads to playing at the national stadium, and I don’t think there’s another junior sport that offers that opportunity of playing at a national stadium for the final.

“It’s an extremely high standard and it’s got higher and higher because of the pathway to where the can play.

"That is a massive motivation, and the teachers buy into it as well and want to be national champions as much as the kids. The kids have a fantastic time and there’s been a massive uptake in participation.”