Tabard Rugby Club helped celebrate more than 10 seasons of the Land Rover Premiership Rugby Cup by taking part in an event hosted by Northampton Saints.

The nationwide competition has seen more than 82,000 children take part to date and continues to grow, providing developmental experience for young players to excel in a professionally-run environment.

Northampton Saints hosted their event at Franklin Garden’s the venue with 12 teams strutting their stuff at the under-12 festival.

Tabard demonstrated plenty of effort and skill but fell just short of earning a trip to the Gallagher Premiership Rugby Final on June 1, where the winners will have the chance to meet a Land Rover rugby ambassador, and join in a Land Rover Premiership Rugby Cup Parade at half-time, plus find out who has won the Junior Land Rover Discovery of The Season award.

But despite seeing that honour go to Towcester RFC, player Ben Fletcher-Gray was still proud of his side’s performances.

“The tournament was great, it’s been so much fun, we want to prove ourselves to be worthy for the rest of the season and trying to get better as a player,” said the Bushey Meads School student.

“The tournament has been great for helping us get better as a team.

“I love the nature of rugby, it’s so fun to play and we played last year and pretty much won every game.”

Participating players at the festival also had the opportunity to meet Toby Trinder and James Fish who took time out of their schedule to watch the young teams as well as offer some coaching tips between games.

“When I was younger I played in these kinds of tournaments every summer and they are a great way of getting stuck in,” said Trinder, who recognises the importance of grassroots rugby.

While Fish added: “I never got the opportunity to play in these kinds of tournaments when I was growing up, so it’s great that these tournaments are being run.

“At this age you have got to learn how to tackle properly and where to put your head in tackles.

“It’s great that they can learn about contact rugby at this age.”

*Land Rover has heritage in rugby at all levels; from grassroots to elite, sharing and understanding the values at the heart of the game. Follow @LandRoverRugby.