Younger Hastings & Bexhill Minis were back on the road on Sunday as the U7s, U8s and U9s travelled to Eastbourne for another weekend of festival rugby.

The rain arrived, but it did little to dampen the enthusiasm of the Blue & White as the players continued to build on the progress made over a busy run of October festivals.

U7s Finish Early Season Festival Tour on a High
The U7s rounded off their opening run of festivals with another excellent day of rugby at Eastbourne.

For a group still at the very beginning of their rugby journey, the past few weeks have given the players an invaluable opportunity to take what they have learned in training and put it into practice in real games.

From a coaching perspective, the festivals have also provided a clear indication of just how far the group has already progressed, while giving the youngsters a much greater understanding of the game than training alone can provide.

Eastbourne also delivered another important rugby lesson: getting used to the weather!

The opening five minutes brought cold and wet conditions, but it didn't take long for the U7s to embrace them. Before long, the rain was being brushed off and the players were getting on with enjoying their rugby.

It was a fitting end to their first run of festivals and leaves the group excited to get back onto the training pitch on Sunday.

A big thank you to Eastbourne RFC for an excellent festival and to everyone who has supported the U7s through their opening weeks of the season.

U8s Grow in Confidence
The U8s produced another excellent festival, with their development becoming increasingly evident as the day progressed.

Despite the wet conditions, the players maintained their structures, grew in confidence from game to game and showed how much their understanding of the game is developing.

It was another encouraging step forward for the group, who now turn their attention to Bring a Friend week on Sunday 25 October, when they are looking forward to welcoming some potential new teammates to training.

U9s Combine Progress with Plenty of Fun
The U9s also enjoyed a great day of rugby, with both H&B teams refusing to let the rain affect their spirits. Both sides took a little time to find their rhythm in their opening games, but once they did, they didn't look back.

There was a real emphasis on tackling technique and anticipating opposition play, while some excellent evasive running — including plenty of 'snake hips' — made for exciting rugby.

But some of the best moments came between the matches.

The players spent their downtime laughing and playing together, while parents supported every child from the touchline. It was a great reflection of the friendships and team spirit that minis rugby is all about.

A big thank you also goes to the H&B coaches who supported the players and took on refereeing duties throughout the festival, representing the club brilliantly both on and off the pitch.

Thank you to Eastbourne RFC for hosting another enjoyable festival and to all the families, coaches and volunteers who braved the weather to support the players.