The city’s festival of rugby, ‘Leeds Loves Rugby’ (20th-28th February) kicked off to a great start this weekend with an amateur rugby tournament, a book signing by Leeds Rhinos player Danny Buderus and a series of kids’ rugby skills workshops, to help celebrate all Leeds loves about rugby.

Young rugby players from Hunslet Parkside Rugby League battled it out at Soccer City on the first weekend of the festival, which has been organised by Marketing Leeds, Leeds City Council, Leeds Rugby and the RFL. The tournament final will take place during ‘A Taste of Rugby’ on 28th February at Savilles Hall (Clarence Dock), where the winners’ medals will be presented by Leeds Rhinos players.

The weekend also saw around 50 people flock to the St John’s centre to meet Leeds Rhinos player and author of ‘Talent is Not Enough’, Danny Buderus, who made the day for many fans, who had gone along to have their copies of his autobiography signed by the man himself.

The Harehills Pigeons team were also at the St John’s Centre talking to children about the importance of sport in the local community, the benefits of sport in keeping fit and building confidence, as well as showing off their rugby skills in fun and informative workshops.

Deborah Green, chief executive of Marketing Leeds said: “The Leeds Loves Rugby festival is a fantastic opportunity for us to maximise the potential created by The Gillette World Club Challenge taking place in Leeds – increasing visitor numbers and raising the profile of our great city. The fantastic festival of rugby, which is three days in, is already proving a big hit with residents and visitors alike. Next weekend we are looking forward to a ‘Taste of Rugby’ and of course, to seeing the Leeds Rhinos battle it out against Melbourne Storm. We will also be welcoming national journalists to Leeds to showcase the city as a premier sporting destination.”

Some of the Leeds Loves Rugby team were on Briggate over the weekend distributing flyers, giving details of exciting events, offers and activities for the festival, which runs until Sunday. Examples include:

• A Taste of Rugby, Savilles Hall, 27th and 28th February. Join in the touch rugby games, inflatable games including Bungee Try, one on one coaching plus games and promotions from Irn Bru and Gillette
• Australia comes to Harvey Nichols, 27th and 28th February. Aussie styled BBQ. Join in the fun in The Espresso Bar located within the Victoria Quarter
• Leeds Rhinos vs Melbourne Storm, Gillette World Club Challenge 28th February, 6.30pm, Elland Road
• Gillette World Club Challenge on display at Leeds Bradford Airport for photo opportunities, 25th February 3,30pm-5.30pm
• Business Sporting Breakfast at Headingley Carnegie on 25th February
• 2 4 1 Rhino’s cocktails at Boutique
• 20% off Nails Inc at Debenhams
• 2 4 1 lunch offer at Casa Mia Millennium

For more information visit www.leedslovesrugby.com.


«Back