Bideford RFC young stars shine at Exeter Chiefs Rugby Festival

Hundreds of young rugby players gathered at West Buckland School in Barnstaple for the Defender Rising Stars Cup, hosted by Exeter Chiefs in partnership with PREM Rugby.

Among the 19 grassroots clubs taking part was Bideford RFC, whose Under-11s and Under-12s teams showcased their skills, determination, and love of the game.

The annual festival forms part of a nationwide series giving young players the opportunity to compete in a professional-style environment against teams from outside their local area. For many, it was their first experience on a club pitch, and the emphasis was firmly on development, participation, and rugby’s core values — teamwork, respect, enjoyment, and discipline — rather than on match results.

Cheered on by proud parents and coaches, the Bideford youngsters played with flair and camaraderie. Under-12 Charlie Flood said: “It’s great playing lots of rugby with my friends. We haven’t played many of these teams before — lots of the players are new to us.”

Coach Andy Flood added: “It’s a wonderful experience for the kids to test themselves against teams they don’t normally play. You can see they’re all enjoying it.”

Exeter Chiefs stars Kane James, Ben Coen, and Finn Worley-Brady were on hand to watch the matches and present awards.

Kane praised the young players: “It’s impressive to see not only skill and passion on the pitch but also teamwork and respect. Many already display all the qualities needed to become the next generation of players.”

Since its launch in 2008, the Defender Rising Stars Festival has welcomed over 125,000 children, some of whom have gone on to play professionally for Premiership Rugby clubs.

For Bideford RFC, the festival provided a unique chance for young players to test themselves in a competitive, yet supportive environment, and to gain valuable experience against unfamiliar opponents. Coach Andy Flood described it as “great for them — you can see they’re absolutely loving it.”

The event underlines PREM Rugby’s ongoing commitment to grassroots development, while Defender’s long-standing support of the Rising Stars Cup continues to inspire the next generation of rugby talent.