Rfu President visits Aldermaston

	RFU President presents Aldermaston U8's with medals

	President of the RFU, Leroy Angel visited Aldermaston RFC yesterday to meet the U8 TAG rugby squad, fresh from their visit to Twickenham last week to formally present them with their certificates of achievement, and commemorative medals from the RFU. He was invited along to the club to celebrate the success of the Tadley based club, who this season are enjoying the status of being a London Irish Community Partner, working together with the Reading based Premiership side to promote and develop rugby at all levels and ages. TAG rugby is provided for younger agegroups as a non-contact introduction to the sport, with the assistance of Marshalls of Newbury, Berkshire Sports Partnership and the RFU
	The youngsters were invited by London Irish last week to participate in a TAG rugby tournament held at National 1 side Harlequins ground the Stoop, winning qualification through to the finals at Twickenham later that day as part of the ‘Double Header’ premiership opener as London Irish took on Leeds, and Saracens played Wasps. The youngsters ran out through the tunnel onto the pitch at half time to the rapturous applause of 35,000 spectators in the famous stadium, England’s home pitch for Internationals. After playing their final game, they were ushered to pitchside seats to watch partners London Irish beat Leeds 27-11
	Mr Angel, himself a Basingstoke resident, was more than pleased to come along to the RecSoc and meet the boys and girls involved in the day, and individually congratulate them on their effort, having himself played at the RecSoc whilst playing for Winchester and captaining the Hampshire County side in his younger days. ‘These boys and girls have achieved something most people only dream about, including myself after a lifetime of playing rugby – to run out at Twickenham in front of a large crowd.’ He added.
	The boys and girls from the U8 agegroup were presented in front of a large framed photo which has been hung with pride in Silchester school’s achievement area all week, but has now returned to the rugby club, featuring all the team running at Twickenham in front of the 35,000 crowd. The youngsters then stayed on to watch the 1^st XV play their first home match of the season, opened by the RFU President. The senior squad continued their streak by convincingly beating Chinnor 15-13 to remain top of the table and strengthen their position.