Following their exciting introduction to contact rugby against Walsall and Burntwood, the Spartans U9s were back in action this morning, welcoming our friends from Aston Old Edwardians for a triangular fixture featuring two Spartans teams — the Swords and Shields — alongside our visitors.

With 16 enthusiastic young Spartans ready for action, the morning provided another fantastic opportunity to put their developing contact skills into practice. And what a morning it turned out to be! There was some wonderful attacking rugby, committed tackling and, perhaps most pleasingly, a growing confidence in the physical side of the game.

The quality of the passing and support play was particularly encouraging, with players increasingly recognising when to carry into space, when to release the ball and how to support teammates after contact. The foundations laid during their tag rugby years are clearly continuing to pay dividends!

Swords

Rupert, Zachary, Saul, Dylan, Eddie, James, Ben W, George

The Swords produced a wonderfully spirited display, combining determined defence with some exciting attacking rugby. Their willingness to work for one another was particularly impressive, with players quickly getting back into position after tackles and offering plenty of options whenever the ball was in hand.

Rupert was once again a formidable presence with ball in hand, demonstrating the strength and determination that have become such a feature of his game. His powerful carries repeatedly challenged the opposition defence, and his willingness to fight for every metre gave his teammates a fantastic platform from which to attack.

Zachary continues to make tremendous strides in his fledgling rugby career. Having only recently made his Spartans debut, he showed wonderful enthusiasm for the physical side of the game, getting involved with increasing confidence and demonstrating that he is quickly becoming a valuable member of the squad.

Saul deserves a particularly special mention for his bravery, although his first challenge of the morning came before a ball had even been passed! Having lost a wobbly tooth just minutes before kick-off, our fearless Spartan promptly put the excitement behind him and delivered another wonderfully tenacious performance. His determination in defence and powerful running in attack were a brilliant demonstration of the courage and resilience that make him such an important member of the team. Clearly, losing a tooth wasn't going to stop this Spartan!

Dylan brought his customary enthusiasm and determination to proceedings, demonstrating an excellent willingness to take responsibility when the ball came his way. His growing understanding of defensive positioning was encouraging to see, and he showed real commitment to supporting his teammates throughout the morning.

Eddie delivered another hugely positive performance, combining intelligent movement with a determined approach to the physical demands of U9 rugby. His ability to stay involved as play developed and his eagerness to contribute on both sides of the ball made him an important part of the Swords' efforts.

James showed tremendous appetite for the challenge, embracing the opportunity to test himself against some determined opposition. His positive attitude, willingness to carry the ball and commitment to his defensive responsibilities were excellent, demonstrating how much his confidence is developing with every fixture.

Ben W continues to be an exciting addition to the Spartans squad, with his remarkable acceleration and natural attacking instincts providing a genuine threat whenever he gets the ball. His quick feet and ability to exploit even the smallest gaps in the defence were a joy to watch, while his growing confidence in the tackle showed that there is plenty more to come from this talented young player.

George produced another accomplished display, showing excellent awareness of the players around him and an instinctive understanding of when to move the ball. His ability to keep attacks alive through clever passing and support play was particularly pleasing, while his determined defensive contributions demonstrated an increasingly rounded game.

Shields

Toby, Jacob, Millie, Primrose, Ethan, Jones, Finlay, Emily

The Shields were equally impressive, producing some wonderfully fluid attacking rugby and showing real bravery in defence. Their ability to keep the ball moving and create opportunities for one another was a particular highlight, while their determination to work together when possession changed hands demonstrated the progress this group is making.

Toby once again demonstrated his remarkable rugby intelligence, seemingly possessing an instinctive ability to anticipate where the ball will appear next. His excellent footwork, clever running angles and knack for arriving in exactly the right place made him a constant attacking threat. Just as impressive was his willingness to get involved defensively, showing that there is much more to his game than his considerable attacking talent.

Jacob was a driving force in the Shields' attacking play, using his powerful running and clever changes of direction to challenge the opposition defence. His ability to commit defenders before creating opportunities for teammates was particularly impressive, and his determination to stay involved throughout each passage of play helped keep the team moving forward.

Millie continues to be an absolute joy to watch, combining tremendous enthusiasm with an increasingly sophisticated understanding of support play. Her anticipation and willingness to get herself into excellent attacking positions provided her teammates with valuable passing options, while her bravery and determination in defence were equally deserving of praise.

Primrose is another of our newer Spartans who continues to impress with her enthusiasm and willingness to embrace every challenge. She showed wonderful courage in getting involved in the contact game and demonstrated growing confidence with ball in hand. It is fantastic to see how quickly she is finding her feet and becoming part of the Spartans family.

Ethan produced a wonderfully composed performance, showing excellent judgement in possession and an ability to recognise opportunities as they developed. His calm approach and willingness to do the less glamorous work in defence were particularly valuable, helping the Shields maintain their organisation throughout the morning.

Jones continues to demonstrate why his arrival at Spartans has been such a positive addition to the squad. His enthusiasm for getting involved was infectious, and he showed increasing confidence in both carrying the ball and committing to tackles. For someone still at the beginning of his rugby journey, his willingness to learn and embrace new challenges is fantastic to see.

Finlay brought tremendous energy and determination to the Shields, constantly looking for ways to influence the game. His willingness to work hard in defence and quickly make himself available when possession was regained demonstrated an excellent team-first attitude. A thoroughly committed performance from start to finish.

Emily was another wonderful example of the confidence and enjoyment running through this group of players. Her positive approach, intelligent movement and willingness to take opportunities with ball in hand were fantastic to see. She also showed excellent determination when defending, demonstrating that she is embracing the challenges of contact rugby with real enthusiasm.

The True Spirit of Rugby

One of the most pleasing aspects of the morning had nothing to do with tries, tackles or individual performances.

A huge thank you must go to Jacob, Ben W and Primrose, who all kindly agreed to pull on an Aston Old Edwardians shirt during the morning to help balance the teams and ensure that everyone enjoyed as much rugby as possible.

It takes real character, particularly at such a young age, to willingly play alongside unfamiliar teammates and against your own friends. Their enthusiasm and willingness to help were a wonderful demonstration of rugby's core values of Teamwork, Respect, Enjoyment, Discipline and Sportsmanship.

All three should be enormously proud of themselves. It is exactly this kind of attitude that makes coaching these young Spartans such a privilege.

Another Step Forward on the U9 Journey

What was particularly encouraging about today's performances was the growing confidence with which our young Spartans are approaching contact rugby.

The players are beginning to appreciate that making a tackle is only part of the job, that supporting a teammate can be just as important as carrying the ball, and that the best attacking opportunities often come from working together rather than trying to do everything individually.

There is still so much to learn, but the enthusiasm, bravery and willingness to develop shown by these players is giving the coaching team every reason to be excited about the season ahead.

Finally, a heartfelt thank you to Aston Old Edwardians, their players and coaches for contributing to such an enjoyable morning of rugby. Their sportsmanship and willingness to work together to ensure everyone received plenty of game time helped create exactly the kind of positive environment in which young rugby players can flourish.

Sixteen Spartans, two teams and another wonderful morning of rugby.

The contact rugby journey is gathering momentum — and our little Spartans are rising to the challenge!

Well done, everyone. Onwards and upwards!