Ballymena pupils score once-in-a-lifetime training session with British & Irish Lions

The rugby team from Moorfields Primary School who have been selected to join the British & Irish Lions at the Aviva Stadium for a training session with players and coaches.

A primary school rugby team from Ballymena is set to enjoy a sporting experience of a lifetime after being selected to train with the British & Irish Lions ahead of their match against Argentina this month.

The talented young squad from Moorfields Primary School has been invited to take part in an exclusive training session at the Aviva Stadium with Lions players and coaches on Friday 20th June.

The opportunity was awarded to the school at the recent Ulster Rugby Primary School Festival, held at Kingspan Stadium, where hundreds of aspiring young rugby players showcased their skills thanks to long-term support from SPAR NI.

Moorfields Primary was selected not just for their sporting ability, but for their exemplary behaviour and enthusiastic engagement with Ulster Rugby’s mini rugby regulations – values at the heart of the event.

Promoting grassroots rugby across Northern Ireland

Ryan Mooney, Partnerships Manager at Ulster Rugby and Daniel Carson, Rugby Development Officer with Darcey Wilson, Corporate Marketing Executive at Henderson Group. 

The Primary School Festival, made possible through the ongoing partnership between Ulster Rugby and SPAR NI, has become a major highlight in the school rugby calendar. Now in its third year, the event welcomed 600 pupils from eight schools daily over five days, providing opportunities for young players to develop core sporting and life skills.

Since 2022, SPAR NI has served as Ulster Rugby’s first community partner and primary sponsor of Mini Rugby, helping to bring rugby-focused initiatives to schools and clubs province-wide.

Bronagh Luke from SPAR NI commented:

“It’s at the heart of the SPAR NI brand to support our local communities and this partnership allows us to do just that by not only supporting the next generation of rugby players, coaches and referees from across Northern Ireland, but bringing young people together to learn team building and the additional skills that team sports bring.”

Reflecting on the success of this year’s festival, she added:

“We’re delighted that this year’s event has enabled a local primary school team to enjoy a once in a lifetime experience, meeting and training with the British & Irish Lions players and coaches.”

Backing the future of rugby

The partnership with SPAR NI not only opens doors for participation in top-class venues such as Kingspan Stadium, but also enhances children’s wellbeing and confidence through sport.

Ulster Rugby CEO, Hugh McCaughey, emphasised the value of community-driven collaboration:

“We want to thank SPAR NI for their sponsorship of our mini rugby events for another season. Activities such as the Primary School Festival have many health and well-being benefits for the young people taking part, and SPAR NI’s sponsorship enables us to continue holding events like this across the province.

“SPAR NI work to support their community in the same way we do here at Ulster Rugby, and our ongoing partnership allows us to come together to support more families, create more participation opportunities, exciting experiences and have a bigger impact overall on our local community.”

As the excitement builds for their trip to Dublin, the Moorfields Primary team can look forward to rubbing shoulders with some of the world’s best rugby players — an unforgettable moment that will no doubt inspire them for years to come.