The future is very bright at Sandbach Rugby Club after an incredible 17 players from Sandbach’s Under 15s team represented their school and claimed a hard-fought victory in the Continental Tyres Schools U15 Plate final. Six of the 17 players have been involvedin rugby at the club since the Under 6s.

Sandbach School beat Royal Grammar School, Guildford (RGS) 31-15 to win the prestigious cup on Wednesday 18th March at Trailfinders Sports Club.

School team captain Bertie Lea, along with other players from the team, were special guests at the rugby club’s annual Legends Day on Saturday. The players paraded their trophy in front of a packed crowd of former Sandbach players, including former Sale Sharksscrum-half Will Cliff, who was hosting the event.

There are further links between the school’s team and the rugby club. Sandbach RUFC’s senior coach and former Cornish Pirates fly-half, Will Cargill, is a PE teacher at the school and the school team's head coach.

Sandbach RUFC Mini & Junior director Jenny Pickles said: "We are extremely proud of the boys and feel fortunate to have such strong links with the school. Many of them have been with us since the Under 6s, and they’ve built friendships that go far beyond thepitch. They each bring something different to the pitch and work incredibly well together as a team. It’s a truly special group, and I’m excited to see what comes next for them."

The Sandbach RUFC players who played for the school were:

Bertie Lea (C), Nate Pickles (VC), Finley Cheetham, Zac Austin, Harvey Crompton, Sammy Jones, Nick Hammond, Finley Ridgeway, Harry Metcalf, Rory Johnson, Archie Cartwright, Charlie Howlett, Finlay Booth, George Connery, Eddie Dickinson, Harrison Mellor andHarry Gibbons.