Gloucester Rugby's inaugural *Festival of Rugby* at Kingsholm Stadium, a three-day celebration of community rugby, takes place this weekend (May 23, 24, and 25). The event will showcase the very best of grassroots rugby, with a variety of competitions and festivals designed to engage players of all abilities and backgrounds. Thanks go to Freemans Event Partners, who have proudly sponsored the weekend of community rugby at Kingsholm. ## **Thursday 22nd May 2025 – 1pm till 8pm** Our inaugural Festival of Rugby kicks off with our High Performance Coaching Conference, delivered alongside Hartpury University and Gloucester Rugby Academy. Enhance your coaching skills, learn from experts, and network with other professionals, all while experiencing a memorable day packed with rugby! ## **What’s Included?** · Meet & Greet with Gloucester Rugby coaching staff · Player Welfare conversations facilitated by Active Gloucestershire experts · Sports Coaching Theory delivered by Hartpury University staff · Performance Analysis and Strength & Conditioning Masterclasses presented by researchers and Performance staff · Q&As, On-Pitch Masterclass and Tactical Discussions with Gloucester Rugby coaching staff · Free parking at the Training Centre · Exclusive resources developed by the Academy coaching team To find out more and book a space: [High Performance Coaching Conference 2025 - Universe](https://www.universe.com/events/high-performance-coaching-conference-2025-tickets-0J6G82) ## **Friday 23rd May 2025 – Gates Open at 5:30pm** The on pitch rugby activities kicks off on Friday, under the Kinsgholm lights, as two inclusive forms of rugby, Walking Rugby and Mixed Ability Rugby, come together to take to the field. In the Walking Rugby, teams from Cheltenham, Dursley, Gloucester Old Boys, Gloucester Relics, Stroud, Tewkesbury and Ledbury will battle it out in a festival style. The Mixed Ability Rugby match sees the fiercest of rivals take on each other as Gloucester and Bath go head-to-head. This is a free event, with no ticket required. Please head to Gate 1 to support our counties fantastic inclusive rugby teams. ## **Saturday 24th May 2025 – Gates Open at 10:30am** County rugby returns to Kingsholm for the first time since 2009, bringing together the best community rugby talent from across the region in a showcase of high-quality competition. Fixtures: · Gloucestershire RFU U18s v Dorset & Wilts | 11am · Gloucestershire RFU Women v Cornwall | 2pm · Gloucestershire RFU Men v Oxfordshire | 4.30pm ## *Honda Volunteer of the Year Awards* Alongside the fantastic action taking place on the pitch, club volunteers will be honoured through the Honda Volunteer of the Year awards taking place in Captains Lounge from 12:30pm. This invite only events celebrates the vital role that volunteers play in keeping our community game alive. Tickets are available from just £6, plus booking fee now: [eticketing.co.uk/gloucesterrugby/EDP/Event/Index/179?position=1](https://www.eticketing.co.uk/gloucesterrugby/EDP/Event/Index/179?position=1) ## **Sunday 23rd May 2025 – Gates Open at 10:00am** Sunday sees the culmination of the weekends events, with the North Gloucestershire Combination Cup Finals Day. A highlight in the Community Rugby calendar, where local clubs will battle it out for top honours, bringing together players, families, and supporters for a thrilling day of grassroots rugby action. Fixtures: · Martin Slatter Junior Cup: Matson 2nds v Old Cryptians RFC 1st | 10:30am · Women’s Invitational Trophy: Hucclecote Ladies v Dursley Ladies | 1:30pm · Freemans Event Partners Senior Final: Matson v Longlevens | 4:30pm A massive thank you to our sponsor Freemans Event Partners for fully sponsoring this event and helping all local grass roots clubs in the city by returning the ticket price back to the clubs that have purchased tickets. Tickets are available from just £6, plus booking fee now, and MUST be bought in advance. [Click here](https://www.eticketing.co.uk/gloucesterrugby/EDP/Event/Index/180?position=2) to purchase your tickets. When supporters enter their club’s unique code at checkout, the full value of their ticket (excluding booking fees) will be donated directly back to their chosen community rugby club. This is a fantastic way to enjoy an exciting day of rugby while supporting grassroots teams across the region. ### **How It Works:** 1. Purchase your ticket for the **North Gloucestershire Combination Cup Day** via the Gloucester Rugby website. 2. At checkout, enter the unique code for your local rugby club (see list below). 3. Your ticket cost will be donated back to your chosen club! ### **Club Codes:** **All Blues** – *AllBlues25*
**Brockworth** – *Brockworth25*
**Chosen Hill** – *Chosen25*
**Coney Hill** – *Coney25*
**GLADREF** – *GLADREF25*
**Gordon League** – *Gordon25*
**Hucclecote** – *Hucclecote25*
**Longlevens** – *Longlevens25*
**Matson** – *Matson25*
**Old Boys** – *OldBoys25*
**Old Cents** – *Cents25*
**Old Crypts** – *Cryptians25*
**Old Richians** – *Richians33*
**Spartans** – *Spartans25*
**Widden** – *Widden25* ## **Festival of Rugby Afterparty – Doors open at 6:00pm** Following the culmination of the on-pitch action, the **Festival of Rugby Afterparty** will commence in the Heritage Bar on Kingsholm Road. With doors opening at 6pm, this is the perfect place to join players and club mates to close off the first ever Gloucester Festival of Rugby. ## **Other Activities** The Lions Den will be open for the Friday, Saturday and Sunday and there will be food outlets open in the Fan Zone. The bar will be closed during the women’s matches on Saturday and Sunday, so charge your drinks before KO and head to the stands to support some excellent rugby. Live music, Kids activities including rugby activities, inflatables and food offerings will also be running in the Fan Zone to make this weekend a great day out for the whole family.

Gloucester defeated by Leicester Tigers in The Slater Cup fixture at KIngsholm

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