Summerhill Academy shine MegaFest Rugby Festival
Rosie Carr, Hooker, Bristol Bears centre pic centre.
The Annual T1 MegaFest brought together more than 200 children and young people from 13 schools from across the South West for an unforgettable day of sport, teamwork, and inspiration.
The event is a key part of a partnership between the Cabot Learning Federation (CLF) and Bristol Bears, and gives young people a chance to visit Bear Country and play on the indoor pitch at the prestigious Bristol Bears High Performance Centre.
Young athletes took the opportunity to run, pass and catch on the same pitch used by world class professionals from the men’s and women’s game, in a celebration of grassroots rugby on a grand scale.
Throughout the event, Bristol Bears Men and Women’s players including AJ MacGinty, Sam Worsley, Joe Owen, Matias Moroni, Rownita Marston-Mulhearn, Demelza Short, Jenna De Vera, Meryl Smith and Jenny Hesketh took part in games, offering valuable advice and guidance to the young players. They also took time to sign autographs for their new fans.
A new feature for 2026 was the introduction of Sports Leaders from City Academy, who not only led all the primary activities, but also refereed the secondary T1 festival. They all acted as outstanding ambassadors for their school throughout event and made it such a memorable occasion for everyone involved.
The festival is a key part of the Rugby Football Union’s (RFU) T1 competition, a national initiative designed to grow participation in the sport.
CLF schools taking part included King’s Oak Academy, Wicklea Academy, Summerhill Academy, Broadoak Academy, Bristol Brunel Academy, John Cabot Academy and City Academy.
The festival was divided into two competitive sessions, with a primary school event in the morning followed by a secondary school competition in the afternoon.
Summerhill Academy’s team was crowned winners of the primary event, impressing throughout the morning by consistently demonstrating the CLF HEART values and The RFU TREDS Values Award which recognises players, volunteers, or teams who embody rugby union’s core values: Teamwork, respect, enjoyment, discipline, and sportsmanship.
Broadoak Academy was selected by the Young Leaders and coaches as the Values Champions for the secondary event. The mixed team from Broadoak was made up of young people brand new to the game, but the attitude and effort shown really shone through.
MegaFests feature a series of fun, game-based activities designed to develop a wide range of transferable sports and movement skills, including passing and evasion. The festival focused on building confidence and fostering key social skills such as teamwork and communication.
Rather than concentrating solely on match results, participants were recognised for demonstrating positive personal and social attributes alongside strong rugby skills.
These activities also supported the introduction of T1 rugby, an integral element of the event. Launched globally in 2024, T1 rugby is the officially recognised non-contact format of the game for schools and clubs. While it retains key aspects of tag rugby, it offers teachers the flexibility to introduce additional elements such as kicking and uncontested scrums, creating an engaging and development-focused experience for young players.
Theresa Bickell, Secondary School Engagement Co-ordinator for CLF and Bristol Bears Foundation, who organised the event, said: “We were incredibly proud to see so many young people come together to enjoy rugby in such a positive and inclusive environment.
“The T1 format is a fantastic way to introduce the game, allowing every child to develop skills, confidence, and a love for rugby.
“Events like MegaFest are all about creating opportunities, celebrating teamwork, and inspiring the next generation to stay active and engaged in sport.”
The T1 MegaFest highlights the continued commitment to growing rugby at grassroots level, providing inclusive and exciting opportunities for young people to get involved in the sport.
Tom Tainton, Bristol Bears CEO: “It’s fantastic to see MegaFest continue to grow and bring so many young people together in such an inspiring environment. Events like this really showcase what our partnership with the Cabot Learning Federation is all about – creating opportunities, building confidence, and using sport to engage and connect.
“Welcoming students to the High Performance Centre and seeing them take part with such energy and enthusiasm underlines the lasting impact these experiences can have. Through the work of Bristol Bears Foundation, we’re proud to play a role in helping more young people discover a love for rugby, while strengthening the connection between the Bears and the communities we serve.”
