Zug Rugby Club’s U12s travelled to the Mini X Nations Mini Rugby Tournament near Milan this weekend and delivered a performance full of grit, courage, and serious intent.

Competing against strong international opposition, including teams from Ireland, Scotland, Italy, and the Czech Republic, the players were given a simple challenge before the tournament:

Be tough like junkyard dogs and surprise these guys.

They did exactly that.

Tournament Results
Zug 3 – 2 Waterpark RFC (Ireland)
Zug 1 – 2 Seregno (Italy)
Zug 3 – 0 CUS Piemonte (Italy)
Zug 1 – 1 Watsonians (Scotland)
Zug 2 – 1 Arka Rumya (Czech Republic)

Played 5 | Won 3 | Drew 1 | Lost 1

The only defeat came in a narrow 2–1 loss to Seregno, who went on to become tournament finalists.

The draw with Watsonians was one of the standout moments of the day. Zug led for most of the match against a Scottish side that reportedly trains four times per week, only conceding in the final seconds after Watsonians camped on the Zug try line for multiple phases and finally forced their way over.

Frustrating? Absolutely.

Impressive? Also absolutely.

And that was the story of the day. Against serious rugby nations and established rugby clubs, Zug were not out of place. Far from it. A few different bounces of the ball, and this team would have been in the final.

Respect Earned

One of the most pleasing parts of the weekend was the reaction from opposition coaches.

The Scottish and Irish coaches admitted afterwards that when they saw a Swiss team in the draw, they had expected a straightforward fixture. Instead, they were met by a Zug side that tackled hard, competed fiercely, and pushed them all the way.

So, small administrative update to the wider rugby world:

Swiss teams are not automatic wins.

You’re welcome.

More Than Just Rugby

As always with a proper rugby tour, the weekend was about more than what happened on the pitch.

Players and parents enjoyed time together in Milan, visiting food markets, seeing the sights, and making the most of the team-tour experience. There was great food, plenty of laughs, and an excellent atmosphere among the travelling group.

There was also the now slightly legendary player takeover of the Head Coach’s hotel room, which somehow turned into a full-scale U12 party. Miraculously, the hotel survived.

These are the moments that build teams.

A Proud Weekend for Zug

The players represented Zug Rugby Club superbly. They showed fight, togetherness, discipline, and belief. They backed each other, challenged strong opposition, and proved they belong on this stage.

Finishing 5th out of 22 teams at an international tournament is a fantastic achievement.

But the bigger message is even better:

Zug isn’t showing up to participate.

We’re coming to compete.