The Aviva Premiership Rugby final may still be three months away but youngsters from Stow on the Wold & District RFC are already counting down the days – thanks to their efforts and skill at last weekend’s Land Rover Premiership Rugby Cup.

On Sunday, Stow Under-12s took to the field for the Land Rover Premiership Rugby Cup competition, hosted by Gloucester Rugby at Dean’s Close school.

Not only did they get to strut their stuff in front of onlooking Gloucester players Motu Matu’u and Tom Denton, but the players also secured the opportunity to appear at next May’s Aviva Premiership Rugby Final at Twickenham, where they will take part in a special half-time parade.

More than 30 Under-11 and Under-12 teams took part in this weekend’s grassroots rugby festival – which is celebrating its tenth anniversary year and has seen more than 70,000 children take part to date – with Stow relishing the opportunity to go to Twickenham.

“I’m really happy that we’re going to Twickenham, I think it’ll just be really, really good,” said Cotswolds school pupil Lysander Tarrant.

“I’ve always known that we’ve got quite a strong side but I didn’t expect to win the tournament.

“I’ve only been to Twickenham once and that was about four years ago, it’s going to be a good experience and hopefully not too intimidating!”

As well as taking part in the Land Rover Premiership Rugby Cup Parade during May’s final, Stow can also look forward to meeting a Land Rover rugby ambassador at Twickenham and hearing which of them has won a club MVP award.

They got a taste of rubbing shoulders with rugby’s elite when they met Gloucester players Matu’u and Denton on Sunday and the former admitted he had been impressed with what he had seen, in particular stressing the importance of grassroots rugby.

“The benefits of it are that the kids are really enjoying themselves,” said the Gloucester hooker. “At the end of the day rugby’s about enjoyment and the funny thing too is seeing a lot of the parents come along and support their kids.

“I think that speaks louder than words really, the fact that all these parents are out there and supporting them, it’s all about giving back to the young kids.

“Junior footy is the future of rugby here in Gloucester and all across England - Land Rover have put on a really good show for everyone here today.

“If the kids are enjoying it then that’s all that matters really and these kids have done here.”

Land Rover is celebrating its ‘Testimonial Season’; ten years of the Land Rover Premiership Rugby Cup. The national series of grassroots rugby festivals is testament to Land Rover’s continued support of grassroots rugby through its ‘We Deal In Real’ campaign. Follow @LandRoverRugby #WeDealInReal