It’s official – Richmond’s primary school children have smashed the world record for the most participants in touch/mini/tag exhibition rugby match ever staged.

Broken in the Rugby World Cup Fanzone yesterday, 442 children played non-stop tag rugby for six hours. Richmond’s proud children were given a certificate from officials from the Guinness Book of Records who witnessed the record-breaking challenge.

Richmond’s primary school children beat the original record of 336 participants set two years ago in Italy by 106 children. The event was part of the annual schools tag rugby tournament and Richmond Council’s TRY IT festival. The Borough’s primary school tag rugby tournament has been the biggest so far with over 600 students taking part from 32 schools. In the Year 3 and 4 event St James school won the cup and Sacred Heart the plate event. St Marys and St Peters school were the winners of the cup in Year 5 and 6 event, while Marshgate won the plate.

Richmond Council Cabinet Member for Sport, Cllr Meena Bond, said:

“We always knew Richmond’s young people were among the fittest and most competitive in London – they’ve been on the podium of the London Youth Games for the past two years, but now they are world beaters. Well done to everyone involved – you’ve made Richmond proud.”

We would like to thank everyone that took part, especially Ian Glover, Joe Glover and James Peet who were the referees for the day.