The tournament, which has been running for more than 35 years, encourages children to get more active and to develop their rugby skills through (mini rugby).

To reach the finals over 1,000 children from Primary Schools throughout Northern Ireland will take part in eight pre-qualifying tournaments, resulting in 34 teams progressing to the Ravenhill finals to battle it out for the 2008 titles. These include the winning teams, as well as fair play awards given out on each day of the competitions.

Commenting on the tournament, Simon Wallace, Commercial Manager with Ulster Rugby said, “Mini rugby is an exciting way for kids to play and enjoy rugby. The tournament has proved to be a hugely successful feature of the junior rugby calendar, and continues to play an important role in nurturing young sporting talent in Ulster.  The added element of competing on the historic Ravenhill pitch is something that the kids are sure to remember long after the final whistle.”

Helen Agnew from Northgate Education, added “We are delighted to continue our support for this excellent tournament for a third consecutive year. Northgate firmly believes in investing in tomorrow’s sporting stars, and I have no doubt that we will see a few talented kids that one day may represent Ulster.”

“As Northgate continues to progress e-learning solutions in classrooms across the province through Classroom 2000 (C2k), we understand the importance of extracurricular activities in encouraging a better learning experience.  Mini rugby is a great way for young people to become more active and to develop their social skills. With the competition sure to be exciting, we wish all the participating teams the very best of luck.”

For more information on the qualifying matches or arrangements for the finals please contact Máire Cahill at the Ulster Branch on 90493111 ext 227.