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# Ipswich to host 40th National Schools Rugby Festival
- URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/ipswich-hosts-40th-national-schools-rugby-festival/
- Published: 2026-10-14T09:21:57.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-14T09:25:02.000Z
- Description: Schools from across the UK will arrive at St Joseph's College this weekend for the 40th National Schools Rugby Festival, with four competitions across three days and a first U18 girls' title up for grabs.
- Author: Nicola Sebastian
- Tags: News, St Joseph's College

**Why it matters:** First held at St Joseph's in 1987, the festival has given generations of young players a national stage, with former players including Mike Tindall and Matt Dawson going on to represent their countries. 

**The details:** The festival runs from Friday, 16 October to Sunday, 18 October at St Joseph's College on Belstead Road, with four competitions:

- U11 mixed
- U15 boys
- U18 girls
- U18 boys

The U18 boys' competition features 16 schools from across the UK, including Millfield, Wellington College, Brighton College, Cheltenham and hosts St Joseph's.

**What's new:** Girls' rugby has previously featured at the festival through a showcase match, but this year girls' teams will compete for the National Schools Rugby Festival title for the first time.

The new U18 girls' competition follows the launch of the college's dedicated girls' rugby programme, led by newly appointed head of girls' rugby Kira Reeves. Reeves spent three years as a player in the Saracens Centre of Excellence and has been shortlisted for a PwC Women of the Future 2026 award in the sports category.

James Haskell and Alex Payne, of The Good, The Bad & The Rugby, will visit on Saturday, 17 October. Their visit includes a festival-wide meet and greet, a player village tour, co-commentary, a VIP Q&A and a festival podcast live-streamed across the campus.

**What they're saying:** Fred Wenham, assistant principal for sport at St Joseph's College, said: "The 40th festival is a major milestone for St Joseph's College, but our focus remains firmly on the rugby. The standard of competition is what has built this festival's reputation over four decades."

He added: "Introducing the U18 Girls competition is an incredibly important step for us as a College and for the evolution of the Festival."

**For context:** Other former festival players include Jonathan Joseph and Chris Robshaw, along with St Joseph's alumni Lewis Ludlam, Emmanuel Iyogun and Marshall Sykes, who also went on to represent their countries.

VIP hospitality packages are available across the weekend, offering exclusive access, complimentary parking and an all-day buffet. The festival is supported by headline sponsor Fleximise and lead sponsors Tubeway and The School Fees Company.

**The bottom line:** As it reaches its 40th edition, the National Schools Rugby Festival brings three days of high-level school rugby to Ipswich, with girls' teams competing for the title for the first time.

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