Article by Abe Cilliers, U14 Head Coach

On 12 September, Zug Rugby hosted the first U14 tournament of the season. More than 80 players from across the NSRV region, representing clubs from Zurich, Basel, Würenlos, Tägerwilen, Winterthur and Zug took part in a memorable day of rugby.

The grass pitch at Riedmatt, combined with beautiful weather, provided the perfect setting for the players to enjoy their rugby. The tournament consisted of five clubs, with Zug fielding two teams, competing in a round-robin format. The sizeable crowd was treated to 10 exciting matches, while enjoying a barbecue, refreshments and plenty of cake.

The games were played in the true spirit of rugby, with some epic clashes taking place on the field. Zug’s U14 match-day squad included 33 players across two balanced teams, six of whom were playing in their first tournament. The players showed great spirit and were not afraid to make mistakes. They made the coaching team, their parents, siblings and friends extremely proud.

At the end of the day, the Zug squad was rewarded with the top places in the standings. A very strong Zurich Rugby team finished third, followed by Basel/Würenlos and Tägerwilen.

A special thank you goes to all the parent helpers who supported the catering team. More than 200 sausages were grilled and countless cakes were enjoyed! Another highlight was seeing the wider Zug rugby community come together to support the tournament - from catering preparation and procurement to field prep, referee coordination and touchline judging.

This is why we don’t just like rugby - we love it!