The Surrey U7s festival at Esher Rugby Club was a brilliant way to round off a run of three busy weekends of rugby.

Esher hosted a fantastic morning, with all four of our teams playing four games back-to-back. It kept everyone on their toes and gave the players loads of time on the pitch, which is exactly what they need at this stage. Despite the quick turnaround between games, the energy and enthusiasm never dropped.

What’s been great to see—especially across the last few festivals—is how much the players are starting to understand the game. Passing backwards is becoming more natural, they’re beginning to hold their lines better, and tagging is much more controlled. You can really see things starting to click.

The mixed team format continues to be a big positive. With players lining up alongside different teammates each week, it’s helping build confidence, friendships, and a real sense of togetherness across the whole group. It’s also great to see them learning to communicate and support each other out on the pitch.

After three festivals in a row, it feels like a good moment to take stock. The players have put in a great effort, and the progress is clear to see.

We’re back to training at Camberley next week, and I think everyone will appreciate a bit of a breather from the early Sunday mornings—players, parents, and grandparents included!