Festivities kicked off in September, however torrential rain put a premature end to the planned events but that didn’t stop the children playing some exciting games of touch rugby.

On Sunday, the conditions were remarkably different and players from all the mini and junior teams came together in glorious sunshine for a game of inclusive mixed touch rugby. After an hour of rugby, players and club members gathered on the first team pitch to form the shape of a 5 and a 0 for a commemorative photo to mark the clubs landmark milestone.

The grand finale was the annual colour run, where the players ran around the pitches whilst coloured paint was thrown on them at various stages. When the run concluded, canisters of coloured paint were spectacularly launched at all the participants to mark the end of the colour run and the 50th anniversary celebrations.

The club’s first ever mini and junior match took place in 1972 between Sandbach Colts and Broughton Park. The mini and juniors officially started two years later and by 1978 an average of eighty boys were playing per week with six mini teams and two junior teams. At the end of the 2025 season around 350 children, between the ages of 6 and 18 play for the club.

Earlier in the season, Paul Jackson, Sandbach’s Chairman, shared his congratulations with all involved: “Congratulations to today’s mini and junior players, coaches, first aiders, helpers, volunteers, organisers and parents. It would be my hope that when we get to 100 years there will be plenty of you around who can remember the 50-year celebration."

This season the teams have travelled far and wide playing in competitive games, rugby festivals and friendly tag rugby matches. Notable achievements this year include the Under 13s reaching the Cheshire Cup Finals Day, the Under 14s reaching the Cheshire Plate Final and the Junior Colts reaching both the Cheshire Bowl Final and the Halbro League Plate Final. Finally, the Senior Colts secured their league title with two games to spare and they also reached the Halbro League Cup Final.

Last week, the Under 8 team said farewell to their tags and they launched them in the air to celebrate. They will now prepare to take the next stage in their rugby journey when they begin contact and tackling next season. The Under 6s will become Under 7s and will start to host and travel to matches and the Senior Colts will graduate to senior rugby. Sandbach’s girls section will continue to train and take part in development matches with other local clubs. Meanwhile, a new batch of young players will join the club and the cycle will continue.

The season has now officially finished and the pitches will be reseeded in preparation for another year of rugby. The players and volunteers will take a much-deserved break but the countdown to the new season will begin straightaway.

Rugby at Bradwall Road is thriving.

Report by Rhys Fullerton
Photo Archie Lea